Chief Medical Officer at The Pearl International Hospital Dr. Cem Emir Guldogan and Chief Research Officer at Sidra Medicine, Prof. Khalid Fakhro at agreement signing event.
Doha, Qatar: Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, and The Pearl International Hospital have signed an agreement to provide expectant parents with access to Sidra Medicine’s cord blood banking services.
The agreement will provide expectant parents the choice to store their baby’s umbilical cord blood with Sidra Medicine, as part of their maternity care journey with The Pearl International Hospital. Sidra Medicine will collect, process and store the samples at its specialised GMP facility, which houses Qatar’s only Cord Blood Bank.
Chief Research Officer at Sidra Medicine, Prof. Khalid Fakhro said, “This agreement expands access to an important innovative and specialized service for expectant parents in Qatar. By making clinical-grade cord blood and tissue banking services available to families receiving maternity care at The Pearl International Hospital, we are providing them with the information and support they need to make informed decisions about preserving these valuable biological resources. It also reflects Sidra Medicine’s continued commitment to advancing specialised healthcare services for as many patients and families across the country.”
Chief Medical Officer at The Pearl International Hospital Dr. Cem Emir Guldogan expressed the hospital’s pride in this significant achievement, highlighting the hospital’s role in providing advanced medical care to the community and reaffirming its continued commitment to enhancing high-quality healthcare services.
Dr. Guldogan said, “This agreement represents an important milestone in our journey to elevate healthcare standards in the State of Qatar. The Pearl International Hospital has been developed to offer world-class medical expertise, innovative technologies, and an environment that promotes holistic well-being. Our commitment is to provide high-quality, compassionate care that aligns with international best practices while respecting the values of our community.”
The collection of the cord blood is painless and risk-free for both mother and baby and is performed after the cord is clamped and cut. It is a one-time collection opportunity, and not possible to harvest later in life.
Cord blood contains stem cells which are used in the treatment of a range of blood, immune, and genetic disorders with ongoing research to explore their potential in regenerative medicine for diseases like cerebral palsy, autism and type 1 diabetes. Registered families of the service can access the stem cells for the future treatment of certain diseases and conditions for their child as well as for extended family members.
