Blood can be collected from the umbilical cord of a newborn baby shortly after birth. This blood is rich in blood stem cells that can be used to generate red blood cells and cells of the immune system. Cord Blood stem cells can be used to treat a range of blood disorders and immune system conditions such as leukaemia, anaemia and autoimmune diseases. Once collected, cord blood can be stored in a cord blood bank and would be available for use by the donor and compatible siblings.
Alternatively, the cord blood may be donated to a general cord blood bank for use by other tissue matched individuals in need of a transplant. It is hoped that over time a store of cord blood stem cells from people of different tissue types may be established. Someone requiring a transplant would be treated with stem cells from the sample most closely matching their own tissue type, thus minimising complications associated with immune rejection.
Cord blood stem cells may also be useful for treatment of diseases other than blood disorders. Preliminary research reports suggest that cord blood stem cells may have a greater ability to differentiate into different cell types than was previously thought possible. Using animal model, several research groups have used human cord blood stem cells to treat heart attacks and repair injured blood vessels. However, this research is at a very early stage. Scientists are presently unsure whether the cord blood stem cells are transformed into heart muscle or blood vessels, or if they secrete growth factors, that trigger repair. If further studies and clinical trials prove successful, cord blood stem cells may provide a new treatment for cardiovascular disease with fewer side effects than current drug based and surgical treatments.
Ethical Issues
The use of cord blood stem cells in cell-based therapies for blood and immune diseases, and for other potential applications, would be welcomed by the majority of the community. Although cord blood stem cells are less versatile than Embryonic Stem cells, their use in research is less controversial as it does not involve the destruction of embryos. Their potential use for cell-based therapies is also attractive as it would be possible to use a patient’s own cord blood stem cells to generate tissue for transplantation, thus avoiding problems with immune rejection.
.Saviour Siblings
Controversy has arisen over the practice of genetically selecting embryos created during infertility treatment, for the purpose of using the donor baby’s cord blood to treat an ill sibling. In this procedure, genetic testing is performed to ensure that the embryo will provide cord blood devoid of the genetic defect afflicting the sibling, but which matches the sibling’s genetic make up. The donor baby in this case is sometimes referred to as a ‘savior sibling’.
The first ‘saviour sibling’ to be born in Australia was reported in March 2004. A Tasmanian couple used this technology to have a second child who was free of a genetic condition, Hyper IgM Syndrome. Cord blood from this child could be used to treat the affected sibling. As a result of this selection process carried out Sydney IVF Clinic, the woman started her pregnancy knowing that her baby was free of Hyper IgM Syndrome and would be a potential tissue donor for her existing son.
The creation of ‘saviour siblings’ has evoked a quite heated debate in both the medical and general community. Some are vehemently opposed to this application, considering this the first step in ‘designer babies’. Others consider it highly unethical not to use this technology to help the sick sibling. The overarching issue to be considered is the well being of the ‘savior sibling’, and to ask the question whether they will be disadvantaged by the procedure. These are questions to be considered by both the biomedical and general community when considering applications of any new technology.
saritaone asked:
using her brother’s cord blood stem cells is now living happily and actively. Angel’s family had no history of cancer in the family and they had no reason to store her cord blood stem cells when she was born but her brother’s matching stem cells were used to save her life. Her stem cell transplant was performed in 2004 in a Malaysian Public Hospital. … cordblood “cord blood” “stem cell” “cord blood banking” “stem cell transplant” leukemia child remission malaysia “stem cell bank” stemlife …
assureimmune asked:
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CBRVideos asked:
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happyinca2007 asked:
Joseph Davis, Jr. was cured of life-threatening sickle cell anemia, by a cord blood transplant from his baby brother.For more information click below cordblood.com … cordblood cord blood stem cell cells children kids baby babies pregnant pregnancy prenatal health treatment cure
cordblood asked:
Diagnosed at birth with Sickle Cell Anemia, Joseph Davis Jr. was saved by the stem cell rich cord blood of his newborn brother Isaac. Watch the story and read others at cordblood.com under the Real People Real Stories section. … cordblood cord blood stem cell cells children kids baby babies pregnant pregnancy prenatal health treatment cure
FamilyCord asked:
-friendly pricing for expectant families. Founded in 1997, Family Cord Blood Services, a subsidiary of California Cryobank, Inc., provides umbilical cord blood processing and storage for families throughout the United States and worldwide. Family Cord Blood Services is registered with Federal Drug Administration (FDA), accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) and licensed with Pharmastem. … cord blood banking bank cordblood stem cells children kids baby babies pregnant …
CBRVideos asked:
This video describes the advanced processing and storage of cord blood stem cells used only by Cord Blood Registry. When cord blood stem cells are processed and stored appropriately, they should be viable when required by a family. For a free information kit, click here www.cordblood.com … Cord blood Stem Cells Pregnancy Baby Diabetes Leukemia Cancer Sickle Cell Anemia Heart Disease Health Medicine
cordblood asked:
Diagnosed at birth with aplastic anemia, Titus Chang was saved by a cord blood transplant from his newborn brother. For info about cord blood, go to cordblood.com and request a free info kit. … cordblood cord blood stem cell cells children kids baby babies pregnant pregnancy prenatal health treatment cure
Cordbloodmom1 asked:
of cord blood stem cells. One year after reinfusion, she has learned to ride her tricycle…..this is for sure one of the happiest moments in our lives!! Please bank your babies cord blood stem cells, it will be the best decision that you will ever make! www.cordblood.com … cerebral palsy cp medicine TIA’s storke miracle brain “medical studies” “duke university” “chloe levine” “cord blood” “stem cells” babies pregnancy denver phoenix news hope cures life recoveries health “brian injury …
TheStemCellSource asked:
Dallas Hextell is helping raise awareness of research exploring the use of a child’s own cord blood stem cells in the treatment of brain injury. … “cord blood” “stem cells” stemcells cordblood “cerebral palsy” autologous “regenerative medicine”
CBRVideos asked:
This video describes the advancements in use of cord blood stem cells as a possible treatment for over 70 diseases. It provides a review of applications in regenerative medicine (rebuilding damaged organs or creating living tissue) including diabetes and heart disease. For a free information kit, click here www.cordblood.com … Cord blood Stem Cells Pregnancy Baby Diabetes Leukemia Cancer Sickle Cell Anemia Heart Disease Health Medicine