Cells for Life and the history of newborn stem cells

The history of newborn stem cells began with research starting in the 1950s¹  and has evolved into an accepted medical practice that can be used to treat over 80 conditions.² Cells for Life is proud to offer newborn stem cell preservation options to families so that cord blood can continue being used in established medical treatments and new stem cell therapies may be investigated using cord blood and cord tissue.^† Here’s a look at some of the most important events in the history of newborn stem cells.

History of newborn stem cells timeline

1950s

• Pre-clinical research on stem cell transplants begins¹

1959

• First successful bone marrow stem cell transplant between identical twin siblings³

1968

• First successful bone marrow stem cell transplant between two siblings⁴

1974

• Human cord blood identified as a source of stem cells⁵

1982

• Cord blood first proposed as a source of cells for stem cell transplants⁶

1988

• First report of a successful sibling cord blood stem cell transplant⁷

1989

• Studies support rationale for using cord blood stem cells in transplant medicine⁸

1991

• First public umbilical cord blood banking facility established⁹

1993

• First report of an unrelated cord blood stem cell transplant¹⁰

1997

• Cells for Life is established¹¹

2002

• First report of stem cell therapy used for ADA-SCID,¹² a disorder that damages the immune system

2003

• Report on a pilot study combining immunosuppression and peripheral blood stem cell transplant for multiple sclerosis¹³

2005

• Cells for Life releases first cord blood unit for use in a sibling stem cell transplant to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia¹¹

2009

• To date, more than 20,000 cord blood stem cell transplants reported worldwide¹⁴
• Stem cell transplants shown to increase survival rates for leukemia patients¹⁵

2010

• Launch of FDA-regulated cerebral palsy trial using cord blood¹⁶

2011

• Cells for Life releases its first cord blood sample for use in a stem cell transplant using the patient’s own cells for medulloblastoma¹¹

2012

• Launch of FDA-regulated autism trials using cord blood¹⁷
• Launch of FDA-regulated pediatric stroke trial using cord blood¹⁸
• Mayo Clinic launches clinical trial examining the feasibility of cord blood collection for children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS)¹⁹

2013

• Launch of FDA-regulated acquired hearing loss trial using cord blood²⁰

2015

• Cells for Life releases its first sample for an experimental regenerative medicine infusion for cerebral palsy¹¹

2017

• To date, 100+ clinical trials have been initiated using cord blood for advanced cell therapies in regenerative medicine²¹
• To date, more than 40,000 cord blood stem cell transplants reported worldwide²²
• Duke University clinical trials using cord blood for autism²³ and cerebral palsy published²⁴

2018

• Phase 2 clinical trial using cord blood for autism published²⁵
• Phase 1 clinical trial using cord blood for acquired hearing loss published²⁶
• To date, 200+ clinical trials have been initiated using perinatal MSCs for advanced cell therapies in regenerative medicine²¹

2021

• Cells for Life joins CooperSurgical¹¹
• CooperSurgical releases 700th sample¹¹

2022

• Phase 1/2A clinical trial using cord blood for cerebral palsy published²⁷
• To date, 500+ clinical trials have been initiated to study cord blood and tissue in regenerative medicine²⁸
• First report of a patient cured of HIV following a stem cell transplant using cord blood²⁹

2023

• First FDA approval of expanded cord blood for the treatment of blood cancers as part of a stem cell transplant³⁰
• Study shows that 27-year cryopreserved cord blood retains functionality and engrafting potential similar to freshly collected samples³¹
• To date, more than 50,000 cord blood stem cell transplants reported worldwide³²
• First outcomes from CORD-SaFe clinical trial are published, suggesting cord blood collections are possible in extremely premature infants³³

2024

• CooperSurgical announces partnership to research newborn stem cells as a potential treatment for congenital heart defects¹¹
• Cells for Life expands its medical needs program as the Newborn Possibilities Program^™ to provide more pathways for families to qualify for no-cost newborn stem cell preservation¹¹

2025

• Safety and early brain development outcomes published from CORD-SaFe clinical trial on cord blood collection and reinfusion in extremely premature infants^34,35
• First compassionate use of cord blood for cerebral palsy in Australia³⁶
• A review of data from many studies on cord blood infusions for cerebral palsy published³⁷

We’re looking forward to what’s coming next

Each year brings new opportunities for advancements in cord blood and cord tissue stem cell research. As one of Canada’s largest and most experienced newborn stem cell preservation companies,³⁸ Cells for Life will continue its mission of leading the way in helping families take advantage of the latest and most promising new treatments.

 

 

References
1. Henig I, Zukerman T. Rambam Maimonides Med J. 2014;5(4):e0028. doi:10.5041/RMMJ.10162.
2. Mayani, H., Wagner, J.E. & Broxmeyer, H.E. Cord blood research, banking, and transplantation: achievements, challenges, and perspectives. Bone Marrow Transplant 55, 48–61 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-019-0546-9.
3. Thomas ED, et al. J Clin Invest. 1959;38(10 Pt 1-2):1709-16. doi:10.1172/JCI103949.
4. Bach FH, et al. Lancet. 1968;2(7583):1364-6. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(68)92672-x.
5. Knudtzon S. Blood. 1974;43(3):357-61.
6. Ballen KK, et al. Blood. 2013;122(4):491-8. doi:10.1182/blood-2013-02-453175.
7. Gluckman E, Rocha V. Cytotherapy. 2005;7(3):219-27. doi:10.1080/14653240510027136.
8. Mayani H, Lansdorp PM. Stem Cells. 1998;16(3):153-65. doi:10.1002/stem.160153.
9. Gluckman E, et al. Haematologica. 2011;96(11):1700-1707. doi:10.3324/haematol.2011.047050.
10. Kurtzberg J, et al. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2023;12(1):26-38. doi:10.1093/stcltm/szac079.
11. Internal data on file.
12. Aiuti A, et al. Science. 2002;296(5577):2410-3. doi:10.1126/science.1070104.
13. Nash RA, et al. Blood. 2003;102(7):2364-72. doi:10.1182/blood-2002-12-3908.
14. Gluckman E, Rocha V. Haematologica. 2009;94(4):451-454. doi:10.3324/haematol.2009.005694.
15. Koreth J, et al. JAMA. 2009;301(22):2349-61. doi:10.1001/jama.2009.813.
16. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2010). NCT01072370.
17. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2012). NCT01638819.
18. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2012). NCT01700166.
19. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2012). NCT01856049.
20. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2013). NCT02038972.
21. Verter F, et al. Future Sci OA. 2018;4(10):FSO351. doi:10.4155/fsoa-2018-0085.
22. Ballen K. F1000Res. 2017;6:1556. doi:10.12688/f1000research.11952.1.
23. Dawson G, et al. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2017;6(5):1332-1339. doi:10.1002/sctm.16-0474.
24. Sun JM, et al. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2017;6(12):2071-2078. doi:10.1002/sctm.17-0102.
25. Chez M, et al. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2018;7(4):333-341. doi:10.1002/sctm.17-0042.
26. Baumgartner LS, et al. J Audiol Otol. 2018;22(4):209-222. doi:10.7874/jao.2018.00115.
27. Cox CS Jr, et al. Brain Commun. 2022;4(3):fcac131. doi:10.1093/braincomms/fcac131.
28. U.S. National Library of Medicine. ClinicalTrials.gov. Accessed October 21, 2022. https://clinicaltrials.gov/.
29. Steenhuysen, Julie. “First woman reported cured of HIV after stem cell transplant.” Reuters. 2022.
30. Omisirge. FDA.gov, 2023. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/omisirge.
31. Broxmeyer H, et al. Cell Rep Med. 2023;4(11):101259. doi:10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101259.
32. Mayani H. Cellular Therapies: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. Stem Cells Dev. 2023;32(7-8):163-169. doi:10.1089/scd.2022.0294.
33. Zhou L, McDonald CA, Yawno T, Penny T, Miller SL, Jenkin G, Malhotra A. Feasibility of cord blood collection for autologous cell therapy applications in extremely preterm infants. Cytotherapy. 2023 May;25(5):458-462. doi: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2023.01.001. Epub 2023 Feb 4. PMID: 36740465.
34. Zhou L, McDonald CA, Yawno T, et al. Feasibility and safety of autologous cord blood derived cell administration in extremely preterm infants: a single-centre, open-label, single-arm, phase I trial (CORD-SaFe study). EBioMedicine. 2025;111:105492. doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105492.
35. Zhou L, Razak A, McDonald CA, et al. Early Neurodevelopment of Extremely Preterm Infants Administered Autologous Cord Blood Cell Therapy: Secondary Analysis of a Nonrandomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(7):e2521158. Published 2025 Jul 1. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.21158.
36. Fahey MC, Paton MCB, Haddad L, Foreman K, Martin M, Novak I, Barnett M, Krause-Onwukwe M, Webb A, Elwood N, Finch-Edmondson M. Safety and Feasibility of Autologous Cord Blood Infusion for Cerebral Palsy: A Case Report With Ethical and Translational Considerations. J Paediatr Child Health. 2026 Mar;62(3):471-474. doi: 10.1111/jpc.70274. Epub 2026 Jan 6. PMID: 41493120.
37. Finch-Edmondson M, Paton MCB, Webb A, et al. Cord Blood Treatment for Children With Cerebral Palsy: Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis. Pediatrics. 2025;155(5):e2024068999. doi:10.1542/peds.2024-068999
38. Family Cord Blood Banking. Parent’s Guide to Cord Blood. Accessed April 2, 2026. https://parentsguidecordblood.org/en/family-banking/canada.

† The use of cord blood is determined by the treating physician and is influenced by many factors, including the patient’s medical condition, the characteristics of the sample, and whether the cord blood should come from the patient or an appropriately matched donor. Cord blood has established uses in transplant medicine; however, its use in regenerative medicine is still being researched. There is no guarantee that potential medical applications being studied in the laboratory or clinical trials will become available.

† Cord tissue use is still in early research stages, and there is no guarantee that treatments using cord tissue will be available in the future. Cord tissue is stored whole. Additional processing prior to use will be required to extract and prepare any of the multiple cell types from cryopreserved cord tissue.