The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with Children's National Hospital, a leading pediatric hospital in Washington, D.C., to establish the Abu Dhabi – Children's National Hospital Cell and Gene Therapy Clinical Excellence Programme. This partnership represents a significant milestone in enhancing access to advanced cell and gene therapies for children in the UAE.
Strategic Partnership Framework
The collaboration will focus on accelerating the development and delivery of advanced pediatric cell and gene therapies in the Emirate, with joint efforts to establish Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) compliant manufacturing facilities. The partnership aims to create both patient-specific and standardized treatment protocols while implementing rigorous protocol systems.
Dr. Asma Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Health Life Sciences Sector at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, emphasized the partnership's significance: "This partnership reflects the healthcare ecosystem we are building in Abu Dhabi, one that integrates the world's leading expertise within a future-focused, patient centered system. Together, with our esteemed partner, Children's National, we are combining global expertise with our local ambition to create a model of care that is sustainable, scalable and tailored to the needs of our youngest patients and their families."
Advanced Therapeutic Development
The initiative will drive the development and delivery of advanced therapies including Virus-Specific T-cell therapies (VST). The partnership will enhance clinical trial capabilities by streamlining regulatory processes, improving data governance and building local capacity in trial management and adherence to international standards.
Michelle Riley-Brown, President and CEO of Children's National, highlighted the collaboration's potential: "Our decades-long partnership with the UAE has already transformed pediatric healthcare, leading to groundbreaking innovations and life-saving treatments for children worldwide. This new collaboration with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi builds on that foundation, allowing us to expedite the delivery of cutting-edge cell and gene therapies and extend the promise of hope and healing to even more children and families."
Training and Capacity Building
The partnership will launch comprehensive fellowship programmes for Emirati clinician-scientists within Children's National's cell therapy teams and co-develop specialized training curricula in pediatric cellular immunotherapy and clinical trial management. This ensures local capabilities remain aligned with global advancements.
The collaboration will introduce virtual tumour board sessions, enabling experts from both parties to discuss complex pediatric cases. Additionally, hands-on training will be delivered in critical areas such as cell therapy manufacturing, quality control, and clinical administration. Complementary workshops will focus on the design, implementation, and regulatory processes of Investigator-Initiated Trials (IITs).
Research and Infrastructure Development
The partnership will drive cutting-edge research and training initiatives, supporting the development of next-generation therapies and shared biobanking infrastructure. By integrating long-term patient care pathways and support services, both parties aim to ensure that children in Abu Dhabi have lasting access to life-changing treatments and improved quality of life.
Strategic Mission and Future Outlook
The agreement follows a high-level delegation visit to the United States from June 15-21, 2025, led by DoH. This strategic mission focused on knowledge exchange, investment opportunities and the signing of new agreements aimed at accelerating the adoption of advanced health solutions. Participants included the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Mubadala BIO, M42, Masdar City, KEZAD, PureHealth, Etihad Cargo, NYU Abu Dhabi, Khalifa University, MBZUAI and startAD.
The initiative positions Abu Dhabi as a regional leader in genomics and precision medicine, offering a strong foundation to accelerate cell and gene therapy research and delivery while strengthening its position as a leading healthcare destination globally.
