Scientist Receives Grant to Study Cord Blood Stem Cell Expansions

A scientist at the Loyola University Health System, last month, received a grant from the Amgen Foundation.

Dr. Aileen Go is researching the use of cord blood as a treatment for leukemia and lymphoma patients who are 55-75. Dr. Go is exploring the expansion of cord blood stem cells to allow a single cord blood sample to treat an older adult. In the past, older adults have required the combination of multiple cord blood samples to provide enough stem cells for treatment.

This type of research is very valuable for families who have banked their cord blood. Since there doesn’t appear to be any “expiration date” on cord blood, the ability to expand the stem cells may eventually allow cord blood to be used multiple times throughout the child’s life.



Leave a reply