Dubai Cord Blood Center saves lives of thalassemia, leukemia patients

The center has the capacity to store more than 4,000 samples  Staff Dubai Cord Blood Center has helped save nine patients suffering from life-threatening illness, according to Sheikha bin Kalban, Head of Laboratories Section at the center.

Five thalassemia patients, two leukemia patients and one fanconi anemia patient were among those cured by the cord blood samples stored at the Dubai Cord Blood Center, she said.

The frozen samples of cord blood can be stored for about 20 years at the center. “The cells extracted from the cord blood can cure 80 diseases including blood and immunity disorders and many types of cancers, especially blood cancer.

“The center was established in 2006 at Latifa Hospital and it is one-of-its-kind in the country with a capacity of storing more than 4,200 samples from mothers of different nationalities,” she said.

“The center plays a major role in collecting and storing cord blood samples for treatment and research causes, and these cells have proven to be successful for the treatment of many diseases.”

She said the center provides its services to both Emirati and non-Emirati pregnant women. An agreement is signed with to-be-mothers prior to delivery and the cord blood samples are collected at the time of delivery.

“We store cord blood into two categories, one for the mother herself who may want to save it for future and  for her child or any direct relative who may face a medical condition and could benefit from the store cord blood. For this, she will have to register and pay a fees. Under the second category,  mothers can donate the sample for the use of other patients in the future. In this case, we guarantee maximum confidentiality of the details of the mother and the baby,” Kalban explained.

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