Things have been very busy here at M.A.Z.E. Cord Blood.  Our business is growing rapidly and we were recently featured in an article in the Westchester County Business Journal, discussing cord blood banking and some of the exciting developments in the industry.  The article is no longer on the Web site, but if you send me an email at anne@mazelabs.com, I would be happy to email you a copy.  The article includes a great photo of our clinical director, Michael A. Werner, MD. 

There is some exciting research taking place in the cord blood industry.  We have provided some information on some important studies below.  Finally, M.A.Z.E. has developed an exciting donation program for charitable organizations as well as a program that allows companies to offer cord blood banking as a unique employee benefit.  There is information on both of these programs below.

Happy autumn!

Anne Young Albanese

Editor

Science Today

University of Florida Launches Diabetes Study
M.A.Z.E. Cord Blood Laboratories is helping to recruit subjects for a study on the treatment of diabetes.  The National Institutes of Health and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation are seeking patients with Type 1 Diabetes who have their cord blood stored.  They are trying to determine if autologous (patient's own) cord blood can be used to treat diabetes.  They will be transfusing the cord blood and monitoring the patient to study potential changes in metabolism and/or immune function leading to improvements in the disease.  The goal of the study is to improve normal glucose metabolism and to alter the course of the disease process. 

Sibling Cord Blood Treats Thalassemia
Children's Hospital and Research Center Oakland has found that a cord blood transplant can cure 91% of patients suffering from Thalassemia.  Thalassemia is an inherited blood disease leading to anemia caused by reduced hemoglobin.  It is normally treated by blood transfusions every 2-3 weeks or by bone marrow transplants.

Cord blood offers advantages over bone marrow.  First, it is easier to obtain since it does not have to be surgically removed.  Second, since stem cells from umbilical cords have undeveloped immune systems, they are 50% less likely to attack the host.

M.A.Z.E. News
M.A.Z.E. Partners with Charitable Organizations
The culture of M.A.Z.E. Cord Blood Laboratories is getting involved and we have developed a new program to help give back to the charitable organizations that are important to our families.  We are partnering with these non-profits to offer their supporters a discount on cord blood banking.  Every patient that signs up with us will receive a $50 discount.  In addition, the charitable organization will receive a $50 donation once we have processed the baby's cord blood.  If you know of a charitable organization that is interested in participating in our donation program, have them call Anne Young Albanese at (914) 683-0000.

Cord Blood as an Employee Benefit
M.A.Z.E. Cord Blood has partnered with Neostrata to offer its employees cord blood banking as an employee benefit.  When an employee is expecting a baby, Neostrata's HR department provides them with information and registration forms for M.A.Z.E. Cord Blood Laboratories.  The employee registers with M.A.Z.E. Cord Blood Laboratories and Neostrata covers all the costs including 18 years of storage.  This is a valuable benefit for employees who want to bank their baby's cord blood.  It also encourages employees to return to the company after maternity leave.  HR professionals who are interested in learning more about cord blood banking as an employee benefit can contact Anne Albanese at (914) 683-0000.

M.A.Z.E. Cord Blood
Superior Cord Blood Banking Without the Hype
2975 Westchester Avenue
Purchase, NY 10577
(914) 683-0000
EMAIL: information@mazecordblood.com

www.mazecordblood.com