In a groundbreaking move, Sidra Medicine in Doha, Qatar, has launched the country’s first local cord blood banking service. This cutting-edge facility will allow families to preserve their newborns’ stem cells for potential future medical needs. Cord blood banking involves collecting and storing the blood from a newborn’s umbilical cord and placenta after birth. This process is painless, non-invasive, and risk-free for both the mother and baby. The cord blood is rich in hematopoietic stem cells, which have the potential to treat various medical conditions such as cancers, blood disorders, and immune system diseases.
Prof. Johnny Awwad, Chair of Women’s Services at Sidra Medicine, emphasized the advantages of having a local cord blood storage facility. By keeping the samples within the country, Sidra Medicine ensures optimal quality and immediate access when needed most. This is in contrast to having to ship the samples from abroad. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and follows international standards, providing families in Qatar with peace of mind regarding the reliability of the service.
All cord blood samples collected will be sent to Sidra Medicine’s Cord Blood Bank, where they will be stored securely in a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility using cryogenic freezing. This method allows the samples to be preserved for over 30 years. Prof. Khalid Fakhro, Chief Research Officer at Sidra Medicine, highlighted the benefits of the cord blood banking service, stating that over 80 diseases can be treated using the banked samples, including certain cancers. This service is particularly relevant for families with a history of congenital medical issues.
To make the cord blood banking service more accessible to families across Qatar, Sidra Medicine has partnered with CellSave Arabia, a leading stem cell banking service provider. Regardless of the hospital where their baby is born, any family in Qatar can choose the joint Sidra Medicine and CellSave Arabia service for their stem cell storage needs. Dr. Iyabo Tinubu-Karch, CEO of Sidra Medicine, emphasized that this partnership aligns with the organization’s mission to advance healthcare and promote healthier families in Qatar. The collaboration aims to make advanced stem cell processing and storage more accessible, contributing to a stronger healthcare infrastructure in the region.
Alia Abdel-Razeq, COO of CellSave Arabia, expressed the significance of the partnership with Sidra Medicine in advancing healthcare innovation in Qatar. By utilizing Sidra Medicine’s facilities and expertise, CellSave Arabia can enhance its service offerings and provide families in Qatar with vital stem cell banking services. Plans are in place to extend the joint service to families delivering their babies in other hospitals and to introduce additional services such as umbilical cord banking, placental tissue banking, amniotic tissue banking, and Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) banking. This collaboration between Sidra Medicine and CellSave Arabia represents a significant step towards providing families in Qatar with access to cutting-edge healthcare services that support their future health needs.
