90.3 WCPN ideastream®: Life's Blood: A Wasted Resource Becomes Life-Saving Therapy
Life's Blood: A Wasted Resource Becomes Life-Saving Therapy
Having a baby is a happy time – and the last thing parents want to think about is the possibility their child may someday have a life-threatening disease. But the birth of a child is just the time to plan ahead – by collecting and saving their child’s cord blood. Stem cells collected from the baby’s umbilical cord at birth are already being used to treat more than 80 different diseases including Leukemia, Lymphoma and sickle cell disease. They have also demonstrated promise in treating cerebral palsy, diabetes and brain injury. Cord blood collection is safe for mother and child, completely painless, and when donated to a public cord bank it’s free, and may one day save someone’s life. Cord blood comes from the live births of healthy infants, there is no ethical dilemma about the stem cells it contains, and if not collected it is simply thrown away. In a three part series starting Monday on Morning Edition, health reporter Gretchen Cuda examines the differences between public and private cord blood banking, follows the cells from the delivery room to the lab where they are processed, and talks to experts about the therapeutic potential of these remarkable cells.
Programs and reports in this series
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Banking on Babies: The Potential of Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells
Regional News Stories: Monday, July 7, 2008
Many scientists say stem-cell research could eventually be the basis for curing a host of diseases: cancer, heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s among them. But stem cells don't have to come from human embryos – they can be harvested easily, painlessly and without ethical debate, from the umbilical cord at birth. In the first of three reports, Ideastream health reporter Gretchen Cuda explains how and why parents can save their baby's cord blood – and possibly a life.
From a Life to the Lab: Following the Path of Cord Blood Stem Cells
Regional News Stories: Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Umbilical cord blood from a newborn baby contains stem cells that have the potential to cure Leukemia, dozens more blood and immune disorders, and researchers say that may be just the beginning of what they can do. But how does something that's normally thrown away become a life-saving medical treatment? Ideastream health and science reporter Gretchen Cuda traces the path of these unique stem cells from the cord - to the clinic.
Life Giving Cells for All
Regional News Stories: Wednesday, July 9, 2008
In less than two decades, cord blood transplants from unrelated donors have nearly tripled the number of adults who survive Leukemia. In the final piece of our 3-part series on Cord Blood, ideastream health reporter Gretchen Cuda shares one woman's success story and examines the future of cord blood medicine.
Additional Information
There are currently approximately 60 thousand cord blood units distributed across various public cord blood banks throughout the country. There is a national initiative to reach 150 thousand units in the next five years. This number represents the amount it would take to ensure that every American has access to a 5/6 graft matched cord blood unit.
The Cleveland Cord Blood Center has around 200 units in storage, and hopes to contribute 12,000 units to that number of the five year period.
Did you know that the African American population in Cleveland has unique HLA? HLA , or Human Leukocyte Antigen, are the markers that are used to “match” transplant donors and recipients. Bone marrow transplants work best with a perfect match. Cord blood can tolerate less perfect matches and still be successful. African Americans in different parts of the country have unique HLA . Here in Cleveland, the African American population has remained fairly isolated and did not mix with other ethnic groups. So while the African American HLA in other parts of the country is often mixed with hispanic or asian HLA-here in Cleveland we have a unique source of stem cells.
If you would like to donate to a public cord blood bank, the Cleveland Cord Blood Center accepts donations from Hillcrest Hospital and Fairview Hospital. University Hospitals accepts donations to the New York Cord Blood Center. Most private banks will collect from any hospital, using a collection kit that parents must request in advance.
