Burjeel Holdings is developing an International Hematology Institute in the UAE under the leadership of Professor Alok Srivastava, a globally recognised expert in hematology and stem cell transplantation. With Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi serving as its flagship hub, the institute aims to advance treatment, research and medical education for complex blood disorders.
Prof. Srivastava has been appointed Chairman of the Group-Wide Hematology Institute. He brings more than three decades of experience in adult and paediatric hematology, bone marrow transplantation and academic research. His work includes developing international guidelines for hemophilia management and advancing research into gene therapies for inherited blood disorders.
He spent more than 35 years at Christian Medical College, Vellore, India, where he helped establish a leading bone marrow transplantation programme and led the Centre for Stem Cell Research. His research has contributed to emerging approaches for treating severe hemophilia A using genetically modified blood-forming stem cells
Click here to join our WhatsApp channel here.
The institute will build on Burjeel Holdings’ existing clinical capabilities, including the Burjeel Cancer Institute, its bone marrow transplantation programme, the Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Center, and the Center for Research on Rare Blood Disorders.
Its planned services will cover adult and paediatric hematology, hemato-oncology, stem cell transplantation and emerging cell and gene therapies. The initiative also aims to strengthen clinical research, specialist training and international collaborations.
Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman and CEO of Burjeel Holdings, said: “The future of healthcare leadership will not be defined by the number of hospitals we operate, but by the scientific institutions we build and the medical advances we bring to patients. Professor Alok Srivastava represents the kind of global scientific leadership around which we intend to build Burjeel’s next generation of institutions. Our ambition is to establish Abu Dhabi as an internationally recognized destination for complex blood disorders, stem cell transplantation, and emerging cell and gene therapies. We want to move beyond delivering advanced treatment to contributing to the science, research, training, and clinical standards that shape healthcare globally.”
Also read: Gulf Medical University Tops Global Ranking for International Outlook
By expanding specialised treatment and research capabilities locally, the institute aims to improve access to advanced care for patients with conditions such as thalassemia and sickle cell disease, while reducing the need to travel abroad for specialised treatment
“Burjeel has made a clear commitment to building a hematology and transplantation service that can stand alongside the best centers in the world. Many families in this region live with inherited blood disorders such as thalassemia and sickle cell disease, and too many still have to travel abroad for transplants and advanced therapies. We aim to offer these treatments here in the UAE in a patient centered approach, supported by strong clinical programs, research, and the training of the next generation of specialists. I am delighted to lead this work,” said Prof. Srivastava.
