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1. The Link between Stem
Cell Research and
Umbilical Cord Blood
by Cells for Life

2. Introduction
In the past, umbilical cords and the blood stored in them
used to be thought of as nothing but waste material.
However, years of research have now proven that they're
actually an important source of stem cells.
Not only has cord blood been critical in the treatment of
children suffering from blood diseases for about 24 years,
research for its use in the treatment of adults has also been
going on for quite a while now. In order to understand the
ins and outs of this important scientific discovery, we
propose to illustrate the link between stem cell research
and umbilical cord blood in this presentation.

3. What Is Cord Blood?
Before we start, let's clarify
exactly what we mean by “cord
blood”. In essence, that
biological fluid is what
remains in the placenta and
umbilical cord of a newborn
after his birth. Collection of
cord blood (which consists of
rare heamatopoietic stem cells)
is not threatening to either
the mother or the child, which
is a big plus in favor of that
technique.

4. The Importance of Stem Cells
Stem cells have the power to differentiate into any
and all types of cells (from skin to nerve or muscle
tissue); it's that pluripotency that makes them so
valuable.
However, although they are found in the adipose tissue
and bone marrow, it can prove to be quite a challenge
to harvest them that way. The availability of these
cells in the placenta and umbilical cord makes for a
much more convenient extracting option.

5. Cord Blood Treatments
Children who are suffering from
cancerous blood disorders,
including genetic blood diseases
and leukemia, can be given cord
blood treatments. Once the
cord blood has been transplanted,
the haematopoietic stem cells
start working their magic,
replacing the damaged blood
cells with healthy ones, and
helping the patient slowly
recover.

6. The Advantages of Cord Blood
Cord blood shows lots of advantages. This is especially true
as compared to bone marrow transplants. Among such
benefits, we can note the following.
Cord blood is easier to collect
The use of cord blood presents an excellent alternative to
other treatment options, for the simple reason that it is
much easier to obtain than haematopoietic stem cells
found in the bone marrow. This makes it a less expensive
procedure as well.

7. The Advantages of Cord Blood
It is easy to store
There are more than 130 public cord blood banks that are
spread out in about 35 countries worldwide.
Perfect matching is not required
Another advantage of cord blood is that it is
less likely to cause complications and
lead to auto immune rejections. Unlike
bone marrow transplant that requires the
patient and the donor to be perfectly
matched, cord blood does not include such
a requirement. Matching may still be
necessary, however, it is not as strict.

8. Other Potential Uses
The use of cord blood for treatment is still in its
infancy; we've only scratched the surface. With
reports indicating that, someday, we might be able
to produce nerve cells or repair damaged
tissues thanks to it, we're just starting to
comprehend its huge potential and what medical
breakthroughs still lie ahead of us.

9. Conclusion
Umbilical cord blood has, in only a
few decades, grown from an
impure waste to the bringer of a
new hope. Thanks to the stem
cells it contains, it has enough
power to lead us into a new era,
the revolutionary medicine of the
21st century.
The coming years will be decisive as scientists around
the world try and find new ways to use and harness
that power...

10. For more information on the incredible uses
of cord blood and stem cells, visit us at:
http://www.cellsforlife.com/