Sidra Medicine Opens GMP Facility to Bank Cord Blood in Qatar

Sidra Medicine has opened a Good Manufacturing Practice facility in Qatar to bank cord blood and birth-related tissues locally, preserving samples for over 150 patients so far, Gulf Times reported.

The service moves processing and long-term storage onshore. Families previously relied on private companies that shipped local samples abroad.

Sidra Medicine Offers Local Stem Cell Storage

• Sovereign Biology: Families can now store stem cells locally at Sidra Medicine instead of sending biological materials overseas.
• Cell Viability: Properly cryopreserved samples stored below minus 180 degrees Celsius can remain viable for 20 to 30 years.
• Weight Limits: A standard stored cord blood unit generally provides enough stem cells for a recipient weighing up to 40kg.

Advanced Cell Therapy Core Facility Standards

The facility operates within an academic medical centre, combining scientific research with clinical operations. 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, Gulf Times reported.

The facility holds a license from Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health. A third-party company from the UK also validated the facility to ensure compliance with international standards, according to Dr Cugno.

Cord blood represents one of three principal sources of haematopoietic stem cells used in transplantation. Bone marrow and peripheral blood serve as the other two sources.

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

Immature Immune Characteristics and Tissue Options

Cord blood stem cells possess relatively immature immune characteristics. This lower exposure to foreign antigens allows greater flexibility in human leukocyte antigen matching and reduces certain transplantation complications, Dr Cugno explained to Gulf Times.

Beyond cord blood, families can preserve birth-related tissues. These additional options include the amniotic membrane, placental tissue, and a section of the umbilical cord.

Biological Material	Primary Storage Method	Estimated Viability
Cord Blood	Cryopreservation (< -180°C)	20 to 30 years
Amniotic Membrane	Cryopreservation (< -180°C)	20 to 30 years
Placental Tissue	Cryopreservation (< -180°C)	20 to 30 years
Umbilical Cord Section	Cryopreservation (< -180°C)	20 to 30 years

Staff test a small aliquot from the preserved product to determine cell viability without compromising the main sample. Researchers are also investigating cord blood-derived cells in clinical trials for hypoxic-ischaemic injury in newborns, autism, and cerebral palsy, though these uses remain experimental.

Establishing a National Cord Blood Bank in Qatar

Dr Cugno emphasised the potential benefits of establishing a national cord blood bank alongside private banking services in Qatar, Gulf Times reported. Such an inventory could create a pool of donated units to improve match rates.

Population-specific genetic characteristics and human leukocyte antigen profiles influence donor availability in Qatar. Locally collected units could address the needs of patients seeking suitable matches within the domestic population, Dr Cugno stressed.

A national inventory could create a pool of donated cord blood units for patients requiring transplantation, potentially improving the chances of finding suitable matches

Sidra Medicine aims to build lasting relationships with families and collaborate with research centres exploring new therapeutic applications. The facility currently offers its banking service primarily to families delivering at the hospital.

References

• Gulf Times: “Sidra Medicine expands cord blood banking for future stem-cell therapies”