UAE TILs Cancer Therapy 2025 – Personalised Immunotherapy

The United Arab Emirates has initiated its first Tumour-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) cancer therapy program, representing a significant advancement in personalised immunotherapy for the region. This exemplary endeavour represents the first time researchers in the UAE have successfully extracted TILs from cancerous breast and lung tumours to establish the groundwork for a new generation of innovative cell-based cancer therapies for already treated patients, marking a major highlight in the country’s Latest News Updates on medical innovation.

Launch of the UAE’s First TILs Program

The TILs program was carried out under an observational study approved by the Department of Health, in association with various leading medical collaboration partners, such as the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and SEHA, to name a few. This project is designed for patients with advanced cancers or for those who present with refractory cancers, as it provides patients with renewed hope who have already completed chemotherapy, radiation, or other customary therapies.

How TILs Therapy Works

The therapy known as TILs is a highly individualised treatment:

The patient’s own immune cells (lymphocytes) are directly collected from the tumour.

These cells are then expanded and activated in GMP-compliant laboratories using advanced cell culture methods.
The TILs are reinfused into the patient when their numbers increase and become more potent.
These supercharged TILs recognise and kill cancer cells with high specificity when they are injected back into the patient.

This type of therapy has the capacity to “supercharge” the body’s natural defences against cancer. TIL therapy differs from traditional chemotherapy in that chemotherapy will target both cancerous cells as well as healthy cells non-specifically. TILs therapy is a living medicine specifically engineered from the patient’s own cells to enhance precision and efficacy.

Medical Advances and Global Initiatives

TIL therapies are already achieving excellent outcomes in clinical trials, especially in melanoma, which is a particularly aggressive skin cancer. The initiative from the UAE aims to enhance TILs for other solid tumours, such as cervical, lung, breast, and head and neck and is built on the global data that has documented these outcomes. The initiative will also position the UAE to become a global leader in advanced cancer immunotherapies and lead to a pathway of developing CAR TCR-engineered cells for clinical trials in the public research sector.

National Strategic Milestone

The release of the TILs program ahead of the UAE National Day notes the country’s commitment to healthcare initiatives and scientific advances in medicine. By providing eligibility to these therapies locally and in upgraded GMP labs that are globally certified, the UAE has eliminated the need for many patients to travel abroad for advanced treatment, reinforcing its position as a regional healthcare leader. This strategic leap reflects the nation’s effort to support excellence in medical science and an increasing role in global health standards.

Collaborations & Next Steps

The announcement is built on extensive partnerships with DoH, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and SEHA to integrate this initiative into a broader cancer treatment ecosystem. Investigators are starting clinical studies with an initial tumour sample collection, in addition to developing protocols to make TIL therapy available for many eligible patients across the country. The long-term vision of the program is to broaden treatment eligibility and establish the UAE as a global leader in translational research and precision oncology, with continued partnerships and collaborations across national and international institutes.