To enable scientists reveal better understanding and acumens regarding the coronavirus, the Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center or ASDCC has pronounced installation of a ground-breaking medical equipment.

The ADSCC is a specialized healthcare facility with area of expertise and prime focus on cell therapy, regenerative medicine, and stem cell research.

ADSCC recently announced that it would be installing Helios Mass Cytometer, which can effectively count and classify a sample cell by cell. This cutting edge technology medical equipment acquiring is a great investment for ADSCC, as it would help the scientists to accurately and efficiently profile human cells individually, within no time. This is crucial for studying the “patient’s response and defense” to coronavirus, thus providing valuable insights to immune response of humans.

The Helios Mass Cytometer is a unique and lone cytometer in the Middle East, worth AED 3.6 million, making it a valued acquisition by ADSCC towards the fight against COVID-19.

An ADSCC spokesperson elaborated, “With this toll, the ADSCC can study clinical outcomes and changes in inflammatory or immune function from blood samples of COVID-19 patients. This will allow us to address some of the pressing questions that remain unanswered regarding COVID-19.”

The scientists, through the use of this innovative equipment, hope to find answers to the “immunological features and molecular mechanisms” that are related to the coronavirus severity. Also the scientists are planning to dig deeper into concepts like if severe cases can be identified early on and which interventions can help in altering the severity of virus. This equipment may also hold the key to questions regarding vaccine development and the course of it.

The medical staff at ADSCC is currently receiving training regarding the equipment operations, which is nicknamed as “The Lamborghini.”

In a recent development, ADSCC revealed a successful breakthrough in the treatment of COVID-19. According to this the body can fight the virus better making it less potent. This treatment involves extraction of stem cells from the patient’s blood and then reintroducing them in form of nebulizing mist post reactivation. This protocol has been reported as 100% successful till date.

In another progress, ADSCC announced on Saturday that in a first case in UAE, it would be offering Minimal Residual Disease tests for cancer patients. This specialized test would allow the doctors to identify any residual and potentially-resistant cancer cells in patients that may cause a relapse of cancer. This would be the first instance of these tests being conducted in the UAE. Due to the requirement of fresh samples for conducting successful tests, the patients have had to travel abroad to get tested. The availability of these tests in ADSCC is a massive breakthrough and sign of relief for patients and doctors alike for management of cancer, particularly Multiple Myeloma and Leukemia. 

WAM