Sidra Medicine is opening new frontiers in stem-cell preservation and regenerative medicine with Qatar's first Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility, enabling families to bank cord blood and birth-related tissues locally rather than sending them overseas, while laying the groundwork for potential future cell-based therapies.
In an exclusive interview with Gulf Times, Dr Chiara Cugno, Acting Division Chief and Director of the Advanced Cell Therapy Core at Sidra Medicine, said the facility was established in accordance with international standards for the manufacturing of cell and gene therapies.
The facility has already banked cord blood for more than 150 patients, with the service currently available primarily to families delivering at Sidra Medicine.
The initiative fills a significant gap in Qatar's healthcare landscape, where families seeking private cord blood banking previously had to rely on companies that collected samples locally before shipping them abroad for processing and long-term storage.
"The GMP facility was built according to international standards for the manufacturing of cells and gene therapies. The facility is licensed by Qatar's Ministry of Public Health and has been validated by a third-party company from the UK to ensure compliance with international standards," Dr Cugno said.
Cord blood banking was among the first services introduced at the facility, reflecting Sidra Medicine's commitment to building domestic expertise in advanced cell therapy and the preservation of biological materials.
Dr Cugno described the concept as "sovereign biology", underscoring the importance of developing national capabilities to collect, process and preserve biological materials, particularly for Qatari families and residents planning to remain in the country.
Unlike conventional commercial cord blood banking providers, Sidra Medicine operates the service within an academic medical centre, integrating scientific research, rigorous quality assurance and clinical expertise into its operations.
Cord blood is an established source of haematopoietic stem cells, which are used in transplantation to treat a range of blood and immune system disorders. Depending on human leukocyte antigen (HLA) compatibility, these cells may benefit not only the child from whom they were collected but also other family members.
Dr Cugno explained that cord blood is one of three principal sources of stem cells used in haematopoietic transplantation, alongside bone marrow and stem cells collected from peripheral blood.
"One advantage of cord blood stem cells is their relatively immature immune characteristics, meaning they have had less exposure to foreign antigens. This can allow greater flexibility in HLA matching and reduce certain complications associated with transplantation," she explained.
However, the number of stem cells collected at birth can limit their suitability for larger recipients. Dr Cugno said a typical stored cord blood unit would generally contain sufficient cells for a recipient weighing up to approximately 40kg, making it particularly valuable in paediatric transplantation.
Beyond cord blood, Sidra Medicine also offers families the option of preserving other birth-related tissues, including the amniotic membrane, placental tissue and a section of the umbilical cord.
"The collected biological material is cryopreserved at temperatures below minus 180 degrees Celsius using liquid nitrogen or its vapour. Research and practical experience indicate that appropriately stored cells can remain viable for at least 20 to 30 years. Stored samples can also be assessed through testing of a small aliquot to determine cell viability without compromising the main preserved product," Dr Cugno said.
While haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation is an established medical application of cord blood, researchers are exploring its potential in treating other conditions. Clinical trials are investigating cord blood-derived cells for conditions including hypoxic-ischaemic injury in newborns, autism and cerebral palsy, although these applications remain experimental.
Dr Cugno also emphasised the potential benefits of establishing a national cord blood bank alongside private banking services in Qatar.
"A national inventory could create a pool of donated cord blood units for patients requiring transplantation, potentially improving the chances of finding suitable matches," she said.
"Such an initiative could be particularly relevant in Qatar, where population-specific genetic characteristics and HLA profiles may influence the availability of compatible donors. Locally collected and banked units could therefore help address the needs of patients seeking suitable matches within the population," Dr Cugno stressed.
Looking ahead, Sidra Medicine's ambitions extend well beyond the long-term preservation of biological materials. The institution aims to build lasting relationships with families, keep pace with scientific advances and collaborate with research centres exploring new therapeutic applications for cord blood-derived cells, Dr Cugno concluded.
