News

Mar 2020   Maksim and his twin sister were born 7 years ago. Despite a normal birth, signs emerged that Maksim had autism: he could not speak and did not interact with people. His mother stayed home to educate the children and the family tried various experimental therapies, but nothing helped. Then, they learned of cord blood therapy for autism. Maksim has been treated with both his own cord blood and his sister’s cord blood. Since the cord blood therapy, Maksim has begun to speak, and is able to attend school. His mother feels a huge burden has been lifted.

Mar 2020   Duke University has filed for patents on the following stem cell therapies: the use of donor cord blood to treat cerebral palsy, the use of a child's own cord blood to treat autism, as well as the use of cord tissue MSC to treat autism. We explain how patents work in the field of stem cell therapy, and the potential implications of these patents for patient groups.

Feb 2020   Emma was diagnosed in utero with spina bifida, a birth defect where the spine is not fully closed around the spinal cord. She required surgery right after birth to repair her spine, and during this surgery she received an infusion of her cord blood.

Feb 2020   Many expectant parents research their options for their child's cord blood - whether to donate it, privately bank it, or have it discarded as medical waste - but what about the placenta? It, too, can be a valuable source of cells that parents should consider saving. (Image credit: painting by Ekaterina Abramova, prints available via Saatchi Art)

Jan 2020   The 2020 annual congress of the Perinatal Stem Cell Society is coming up March 4-6 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  The topics covered in this meeting straddle the edge between what is proven in clinical trials, versus what is actually practiced in clinics, and some of the content may be considered controversial.

Jan 2020   The % of births banking cord blood is defined as the number of units banked in the most recent year with data, divided by the number of births in the same year, and converted from a fraction to a percentage (multiply by 100). The family cord blood banking data in our map is based on interviews with cord blood bankers. This article summarizes data for 54 countries and territiories. All of the available data on banking % and births is displayed in an active map.

Dec 2019   Exclusive interview with Gizelle, adult survivor of childhood stem cell transplant. "I’ve received my miracle today. And I know not everyone will. Moms and dads, if you’re looking at storing your baby’s stem cells, that is the best that you can do for them, for your family. Life is precious. Protect it. And live it.”

Dec 2019   Ilya was the first child to have open-heart surgery with his own cord blood in 2009. His mother says, “I only advise everyone I know to store umbilical cord blood to take care of the protection of children. Because I do not forget about my gratitude to the doctors of the cardiology center and specialists from HEMAFUND who helped save my son!”

Nov 2019   This investigative report examines the medical and financial parallels between placenta donation and organ donation.  Despite their many similarities, organ donation has a good reputation while placenta donation is the target of negative press. Better public education is needed to remedy this situation.

Nov 2019   The world's 2nd expanded access program offering cord blood stem cell therapy to children with cerebral palsy has opened in Europe. At present the program only accepts children that have a diagnosis of cerebral palsy and have their own cord blood in storage. This progam is operated by FamiCord Group and is free to clients in their Transplant Assistance plan.