Cord Blood Stem Cells

In 1963, scientists discovered blood-forming stem cell in mice. These stem cells are specialized in producing blood cells which are origins of the body's immune and blood system.

The blood within the umbilical cord is a rich source of stem cells. These special cells have the ability to regenerate into other types of cells in the body and can be used for transplantation. For instance, stem cells could be triggered into building a cluster of cartilage, nerve, heart or skin tissues. In animal models, stem cells have already been shown to cure leukaemia, diabetes, diseases of the brain (such as Parkinson's disease), or able to repair stroke-induced damage with nerve tissue. The validity of these results has yet to be verified in humans.

Harvesting and banking cord blood is a fairly simple procedure that can be performed during vaginal or caesarian deliveries without interrupting the birth process. The collection of cord blood is not painful, intrusive or risky to the mother or baby.

In the past few years cord blood stem cells have been used successfully in the treatment of certain blood disorders and cancers such as leukemia (cancer of white blood cells) with a transplant.

Some metabolic storage disorders and genetic diseases of the immune system may benefit from stem cell transplantation.

The advantages of storing the baby's cord blood are as follows

• It might save the baby's or another family member's life at some point in the future.
• There is only one chance to bank the baby's cord blood at birth.
• The cord blood collection process is simple, painless, and harmless to the baby and mother.
• People who need bone marrow transplants may have problem finding a match. By banking the baby's stem cells, the odds of having a proper match for the baby or another family member improve.
• Future medical advances might allow stem cells to treat even more diseases and be used in more transplant cases than current medical practices.