Before Your Child Goes to College: The Next 20 Years of Cord Blood Stem Cells

This October marks the 20^th anniversary of the first cord blood stem cell transplant — a sibling transplant administered in France to treat a boy suffering from the blood disorder Fanconi anemia. This breakthrough marked the first of many cord blood advancements, and we at CBR have had the privilege not only to watch these advancements happen, but to help drive their success.

When I joined CBR in 2001, 13 years after the first cord blood transplant, cord blood stem cells had already proven to be a powerful and curative treatment for a wide range of blood disorders and cancers. CBR patients like Joseph Davis , who was cured of sickle cell disease, or Brandyn Orr, who was cured of leukemia, are proof of this success.

Today, cord blood's clinical applications are still growing, and we believe their greatest potential still lies ahead. In addition to being able to repopulate the blood and immune system, cord blood stem cells are capable of differentiating into other types of cells and tissues in the body and of secreting reparative factors in the body, making them a promising candidate in regenerative medicine for the treatment of a broad scope of diseases and injuries.

We know from the stories of CBR patients like Dallas Hextell and Chloe Levine that treatments in regenerative medicine are already showing promise and warrant continued research. To date, more than 30 children whose stem cells were preserved at CBR have been included in the pioneering program at Duke University that is studying the use of autologous cord blood stem cells to treat cerebral palsy and other forms of brain injury. Both Dallas and Chloe recently visited the lab, and the sounds of their footsteps running in the hallway are evidence of the potential of this treatment.

Physicians from other backgrounds are also taking note of the clinical potential of cord blood stem cells and are beginning to devote their research and funding to this area. The clinical trial exploring cord blood stem cells for type 1 diabetes at the University of Florida is a good example. Researchers have just begun to explore the vast potential cord blood stem cells hold to address unmet medical needs in the future, and CBR is in a unique position to help regenerative medicine studies move forward. Currently, experimental regenerative medicine applications using cord blood stem cells require the use of autologous cells, due to the easy availability and safety profile of this source. CBR will continue providing patients immediate access to their own cord blood stem cells, making them eligible for emerging treatments that address their medical needs. We will also continue exploring partnerships with leading research institutions that are investigating potential cord blood applications. Just as patients like Joseph Davis and Dallas Hextell benefited from the most current cord blood therapies at the time, CBR will continue to connect its patients with the most cutting-edge therapies as the science advances.

If you have questions about the potential to use your child's cord blood, please contact the
CBR Center for Regenerative Medicine.

Heather L. Brown, M.S., C.G.C.

Vice President, Scientific and Medical Affairs

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