CORD BLOOD STEM CELLS

1. CORD BLOOD: THE BASICS

2. USE OF CORD BLOOD STEM CELLS: A VALUABLE MEDICAL RESOURCE

An estimated 700,000 umbilical cord blood units have been donated for public use, and over 40,000 umbilical cord blood transplantations have been performed. Over 25,000 patients have been cured with this approach. Follow the links below to explore the importance of cord blood stem cell transplantation, challenges and future directions.

3. DISEASES THAT CAN BE TREATED WITH CORD BLOOD STEM CELLS.
Cord blood can be used to treat more than 80 diseases, including various cancers and blood, immune, and metabolic disorders. Follow the links below for more information.

4. REGENERATIVE MEDICINE AND STEM CELLS: CURRENT THERAPIES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

There is considerable interest in the use of cord blood-derived stem cells in the field of regenerative medicine. Clinical trials are currently evaluating the use of cord blood stem cells as a potential treatment for conditions like cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, vascular disease, autism, cardiac disease and skin lesions to name but a few. The following links touch on many relevant topics.

5. CLINICAL TRIALS USING CORD BLOOD: A SELECTION OF CURRENTLY REGISTERED TRIALS LISTED BY THE CLINICALTRIALS.GOV REGISTRY

VOLUME REDUCTION TO REDUCE RED BLOOD CELL LEVELS

6. VOLUME REDUCTION PROCESSING OF CORD BLOOD AND THE IMPORTANCE OF REDUCING RED BLOOD CELLS LEVELS: THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD PRACTICE

It has been widely accepted in clinical practice for many years that it is best practice to deplete cord blood units of red blood cells using a process called volume reduction. This process also removes much of the plasma before cryopreserving the remaining cellular component of the blood which is rich in the stem cells. Any cord blood units that have not been red cell depleted that are to be used clinically must be washed in a laboratory to reduce the red cell numbers and this risks loss of valuable stem cells.

FACT-JACIE International Standards for Hematopoietic Cellular Therapy product collection, processing and administration 7th Edition (2018) states the following: “B7.6.3.1 Cord blood units that have not been red cell reduced prior to cryopreservation shall be washed prior to administration”

CORD TISSUE STEM CELLS

7. CORD TISSUE STEM CELLS:

Cord tissue is a potentially valuable resource and holds much promise for use in many applications within the field of regenerative medicine. Cord tissue is a rich source of mesenchymal stem cells which have the capacity to differentiate into different cell types and critically, to facilitate healing of damaged tissues.

8. CLINICAL TRIALS USING CORD TISSUE: A SELECTION OF CURRENTLY REGISTERED TRIALS LISTED BY THE CLINICALTRIALS.GOV REGISTRY:

OTHER

9. OTHER TRIALS USING STEM CELLS

Download our PDF that explores how global co-operation has resulted in cellular therapies aimed at treating patients with COVID-19 here.