Advanced FLAIRstar module, developed at NYUAD and now in clinical validation, helps distinguish MS from other conditions, reducing diagnostic uncertainty and speeding up patient access to treatment.

Abu Dhabi, UAE: New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), Yas Clinic- Khalifa city, and Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center (ADSCC) have announced a pioneering collaboration that brings new, AI-supported MRI analysis techniques from the research lab to clinical validation, marking a significant milestone in UAE-driven healthcare innovation.

Diagnosing MS can be challenging, as its symptoms and the brain lesions visible on conventional MRI scans can mimic other neurological conditions. This ambiguity often leads to a lengthy "wait and see" approach, requiring multiple follow-up scans and sometimes invasive procedures to confirm a diagnosis, delaying crucial early treatment.

Over the past two years, the partnership has focused on translating NYUAD’s cutting-edge MRI research into clinical validation. Researchers from NYUAD’s Center for Brain and Health (CBH) provided advanced MRI analysis for Yas Clinic’s PHOMS clinical trial, tracking changes in the brain over time to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of new MS treatments, including Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP).

The collaboration has also enabled the testing of the FLAIRstar module, an advanced computational tool that analyzes MRI scans to detect the "central vein sign" (CVS) within brain lesions. The presence of a tiny vein in the center of a lesion is a highly specific biomarker for MS. By automatically and accurately identifying this sign, FLAIRstar helps neurologists distinguish true MS lesions from mimics caused by other conditions, such as migraines or vascular disease. This capability is now recognized in the international McDonald 2024 criteria for MS diagnosis. The result is a dramatic reduction in diagnostic uncertainty, enabling clinicians to confirm MS more quickly and confidently.

Through the LAMINATE project, MRI techniques refined at NYUAD are now being applied at Yas Clinic- Khalifa city, providing doctors with clearer insights into brain changes and supporting better patient care, with all data kept securely inside the UAE.

Dr. Lev Brylev, Consultant Neurologist at Yas Clinic, stated:  “Through our collaboration with NYUAD, we are combining clinical expertise with state-of-the-art MRI methods to bring transformative solutions for MS care. Tools like FLAIRstar and LAMINATE are already improving diagnosis, accelerating treatment, and ultimately enhancing patient outcomes.”

Prof. Osama Abdullah, MRI Physicist at NYUAD’s Center for Brain and Health, added:
“This is a perfect example of the 'bench-to-bedside' journey. Our work at NYUAD focuses on pushing the boundaries of what MRI can see. Partnering with the clinical expertise of Yas Clinic and ADSCC allows us to validate and apply these discoveries in a real-world setting, creating a powerful ecosystem for healthcare innovation right here in Abu Dhabi..”

This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to combining local innovation with world-class MRI research to address complex neurological conditions, strengthening the UAE’s role in advancing patient care and clinical excellence.

About NYU Abu Dhabi:

www.nyuad.nyu.edu
NYU Abu Dhabi is the first comprehensive liberal arts and research campus in the Middle East to be operated abroad by a major American research university. Times Higher Education ranks NYU among the top 35 universities in the world, making NYU Abu Dhabi the highest-ranked university in the UAE. NYU Abu Dhabi has integrated a highly selective undergraduate curriculum across the disciplines with a world center for advanced research and scholarship. The university enables its students in the sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, and arts to succeed in an increasingly interdependent world and advance cooperation and progress on humanity’s shared challenges. NYU Abu Dhabi’s high-achieving students have come from over 120 countries and speak over 100 languages. Together, NYU's campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai form the backbone of a unique global university, giving faculty and students opportunities to experience varied learning environments and immersion in other cultures at one or more of the numerous study-abroad sites NYU maintains on six continents.

About Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center (ADSCC)

Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center (ADSCC) is a renowned healthcare institution in Abu Dhabi, UAE, specialising in advanced stem cell therapy, research, and regenerative medicine. ADSCC is the incubator of the Abu Dhabi Bone Marrow Transplant (AD-BMT©) program, the first comprehensive programme to provide autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells transplant (HSCT) for adult and paediatric patients in the UAE since 2020. As a Center of Excellence in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation accredited by the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, ADSCC's holistic service model includes advanced research, clinical trials, translational care, and manufacturing capabilities. ADSCC has one of the region's most advanced and sophisticated research labs and a robust multidisciplinary hospital. It is the only center in the UAE to encompass a cell processing laboratory, a state-of-the-art apheresis unit, a stem cell collection unit, a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) laboratory, and dedicated multi-specialty outpatient clinics and inpatient wards. As the UAE’s first and most experienced stem cell transplant center, ADSCC has received multiple prestigious recognitions and conducted strategic collaborations, solidifying its position as a center of excellence. In 2024, ADSCC received accreditation from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) for its cellular therapy processing laboratory, the first in UAE and one of only two in Middle East to receive this global accreditation. For more information, please visit www.adscc.ae.

For media inquiries:
Reem Sabry
Senior Marketing and Communications Manager
+971504134964
reem.sabry@adscc.ae