The Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center, ADSCC, has invested in cutting-edge medical equipment that should assist scientists to reveal new insights into the COVID-19 virus.
The ADSCC, a specialist healthcare center that concentrates on cell therapy, regenerative medicine and research on stem cells, has obtained and fixed a Helios Mass Cytometer, which can count and classify a sample, cell by cell.
The cytometer, the only one of its kind in the Middle East, costs $980k and is a significant purchase by the ADSCC in its leading-edge capabilities during the battle against COVID-19.
The Helios cytometer will allow scientists at the center to swiftly and precisely profile individual human cells, enabling them to study and monitor a patient’s immune response to the virus, unveiling insights about the pandemic from the “patient defense” point of view.
“With this tool, 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.’’
ADSCC Spokesperson
Among the answers, scientists are seeking are what immunologic features and molecular mechanisms are included in COVID-19 severity, whether those most at risk of severe symptoms can be recognized early, what mediations can assist in reducing the rigor of the illness, and what vaccines may prove most effective.
The ADSCC recently declared a breakthrough treatment for patients of COVID-19, which seemed to benefit the body to fight the virus and make the disease less harmful. The treatment includes extracting stem cells from the patient’s own blood and reintroducing them as a nebulizing mist after reactivating them. To date, the approach has had a 100 percent success rate.
Staff at the center are currently undergoing training on the operation of the new machine, which they have affectionately dubbed ”The Lamborghini”.
In another development stated today, ADSCC will commence offering Minimal Residual Disease tests for cancer patients which would be a first in the UAE. The highly specialized test enables physicians to detect residual, potentially-resistant cells that can lead to a relapse in patients. Currently, such a test is not available in UAE and cancer patients are required to travel abroad to be tested because the test requires the use of a fresh sample to be reliable.
The availability of this test in the UAE represents a major step forward in the treatment and management of cancer, particularly for adults and children suffering from Multiple Myeloma and Leukemia.
