We recently discovered a new foundation dedicated to educating parents about cord blood banking. The Save the Cord Foundation was formed by 2 bio-tech and pharmaceutical executives who recognized the value of cord blood. They are working to ensure that every baby’s cord blood is collected. The Save the Cord Foundation encourages parents to bank …
Continue ReadingCord Blood Education Bill in Ohio
A few weeks ago, we wrote about a federal bill to educate expectant parents about cord blood banking. Ohio is not even waiting for the federal government to consider it, the state is in the process of passing its own legislation. Cord blood banking is an important opportunity for expectant parents and it is beneficial …
Continue ReadingCord Blood Banking is so Important!
CTV recently ran a story about a young Canadian boy, Lucas Blake, who is searching for a stem cell match. Lucas is suffering from Fanconi anemia, an inherited disorder where the patient’s bone marrow is unable to manufacture new blood cells. His father is Jamaican and his mother is Portuguese, making a mixed race match …
Continue ReadingArticle Explains Stem Cell Research
Popular Science recently published an in-depth article on stem cell research and some of the treatments that scientists are exploring with stem cells. While a large part of the article is dedicated to embryonic stem cells, the writer includes quite a bit of information on cord blood stem cells as well. It is a great …
Continue ReadingExperimental Therapies
In the past, we have posted about experimental stem cell therapies, but, it is so important, we have to mention it again. When we say experimental, we are not talking about the research that is conducted through major universities, using established research methods to determine if a treatment is effective. We are talking about companies …
Continue ReadingNew Bill Furthers Cord Blood Education
Last week, Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA) introduced a new bill, referred to as the Cord Blood Education and Awareness Act of 2009. This bill will direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a public education campaign on umbilical cord blood stem cells. Expectant moms will receive an informed consent providing balanced information …
Continue ReadingCord Blood Use Is Growing
If you have been researching cord blood banking, you have probably heard of the AABB, the organization that accredits blood banks, including labs that process cord blood. The AABB publishes a monthly newsletter for its member blood banks. This months issue of AABB News focuses on the growth of cord blood and cord blood banking. …
Continue ReadingThe Stem Cell Controversy
With the investigation of embryonic stem cells as potential treatment for diseases, stem cells have become very controversial. Parents wonder if banking their infant’s cord blood will be controversial. The short answer is no. Cord blood stem cells are used to nourish a baby while the baby is in-utero. Once the baby is delivered, the …
Continue ReadingCord Blood May Become an IRS Qualified Medical Expense
Last week, US representatives Ron Kind (D-WI), Wally Herger (R-CA), Artur Davis (D-AL), Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) introduced the Family Cord Blood Banking Act. This act will amend Internal Revenue code to add cord blood banking services as a qualified medical expense. This would allow individuals and couples to pay for …
Continue ReadingDiabetes Might Be in Cord Blood’s Future
Researcher, Larry Denner, at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, is hoping to use cord blood to cure diabetes. Denner has discovered a method to engineer insulin producing cells from cord blood stem cells. His research protocol was developed through the analysis of the normal embryological development of the pancreas. While he has …
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