July is National Cord Blood Awareness Month, presenting an opportunity for families around the world to learn about the benefits of cord blood banking. The month-long campaign promoted by hospitals and organizations is dedicated to raising awareness and encouraging patients and families to speak with their healthcare providers about the potential of cord blood stem… Read more »
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During pregnancy, the umbilical cord forms as a connection between mother and baby to supply the fetus with everything it needs to grow. Immediately after birth, the umbilical cord offers one more opportunity to give life. Here we look at the physiology and function of the umbilical cord. Umbilical Cord Physiology At full term, an… Read more »
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Many parents looking to bank their child’s cord blood stem cells with Cells for Life want to know whether the units will still be viable by the time their child is grown. The maximum storage time for cord blood stem cells is a moving target. In fact, most cord blood banks do not label the… Read more »
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Clinical trials around the world are testing the safety and efficacy of using cord blood to treat cerebral palsy. CP describes a condition characterized by impaired muscle coordination caused by damage to the brain during development. Children with CP have been found to have increased systemic inflammatory responses [Lin CY, Chang YC, Wang ST, et… Read more »
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Patricia Durante was 26 weeks pregnant when she was diagnosed with leukemia. “It was the worst day of my life,” Patricia says. “We were planning a family and beginning our lives together and it just felt like the end was near.” At 31 weeks of pregnancy, Patricia delivered her daughter, whom she named Victoria Angel…. Read more »
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A revolutionary technique has opened up new doors for the use of cord blood stem cells as a potential cure for cancer. Medical researchers have long examined the use of cord blood transplants as a method for treating leukemia and other blood diseases. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre Cord Blood Transplant Program Director Dr. Colleen… Read more »
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One of the many questions we are asked by expectant parents who are considering banking their baby’s cord blood is: what are the odds of needing a cord blood transplant in the future? In order to answer this question, we must consider not only the types of treatments currently available, but also emerging cell therapies… Read more »
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Unlike those of bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells, cord blood stem cell transplants do not require an exact HLA match. This is because cord blood stem cells are more primitive and adaptable cells. What this means is that it is easier and faster to find a suitable donor for a cord blood transplant… Read more »
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We recently blogged about the potential of umbilical cord blood banking – touching on the exciting changes that have occurred over the last 25 years, and what we can look forward to in years to come. What’s even more fascinating is tracking these trends from a worldwide scope, and narrowing in on where Canada stands… Read more »
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The year of 2013 marks the 25th anniversary of the first cord blood transplant. The transplant was performed in Paris on October 6, 1988. Since that time, over 600,000 cord blood units have been collected and stored in more than 100 public cord blood banks worldwide. The field of umbilical cord blood transplants (UCBT) has matured… Read more »
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