Singapore Opens Cord Blood Bank

Nearly 100 citizens of Singapore are unable to find matches for the stem cells needed to treat disorders such as Leukemia and bone marrow failure every year.

They hope that number will decrease with the opening of a cord blood bank in Singapore, the nation's first.

Singapore felt the need to create the cord blood bank, in part, because banks operating in other nations often failed to store samples that matched the typical Singaporean ethnic profile.

Read about it here.

Cyprus Cord Blood Registry Coming Courtesy of Rotarians

"Ten Rotary clubs in Cyprus, in cooperation with the Karaiskakio Foundation, are establishing a cord blood registry that will store donations of placenta-derived cord blood for patients with leukemia, thalassemia, or other blood-related disorders."

The cord blood registry will be networked with the world cord bank, according to the full article provided by Rotary. You can read it all here.

Some Claim Benefits of Cord Blood Banking Overstated

A June 2005 article in the San Francisco Chronicle asks "Is it Worth Banking Your Baby's Cord Blood."

Although the article does spend considerable space discussing the benefits of cord blood banking, it is critical of the cord blood industry. It criticizes what it terms "marketing omissions," stating:

"But what generally isn't clear from the private banks' ubiquitous marketing materials to pregnant women -- in magazines, maternity stores, doctors' offices, direct mail and on the Internet -- is that genetic diseases, such as sickle cell anemia, can't be treated with a child's own cord blood because it already contains the disease."

The article also provides this perspective:

"'Most of the people in the hematology community think they're a bunch of snake-oil salesmen in these private companies,' said Dr. Bertram Lubin, a blood specialist and president of Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute. The hospital has the nation's only program that exclusively banks newborn cord blood, for free, for a sick sibling."

The article, overall, is very critical of the industry discussing the growth of blood cord banking economically while concentrating upon possible marketing overstatements and sales techniques that may be considered inappropriate. The article also spends a great deal of time focusing on the medical limitations of umbilical cord blood.

You can read the piece here.

Cord Blood Registry Standard Recommendations from ASBMT

The American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation has weighed in on cord blood registry standards. According to their site, they have adopted a policy on cord blood registries.

They state "ASBMT supports the development of a single, integrated registry of umbilical cord blood for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation."

ASBMT then provides a list of "principles" to which they believe ubc banks and registries should adhere. These include:

"The collection, processing, testing, typing, storage, matching and dissemination of cord blood units should be part of a continuum of cell sources accessible for transplant. Cells from all sources – marrow, peripheral blood and cord blood – should be readily and equally accessible."

and

"An integrated cord blood registry should ensure confidentiality of all donor and patient records. "

You can read all of ASBMT's recommended principles for cord blood banking here.

Cord Blood Registry -- Confusion re: Term

There is a nationally maintained cord blood registry maintained by non-profit public cord blood banks.

There is a nationally-recognized private cord blood bank that operates under the name of Cord Blood Registry.

It is easy, when looking for information or doing cord blood research to confuse the lowercase registry with Cord Blood Registry.

As one researches cord blood and cord blood banking, it may be of value to remember the phrase "cord blood registry" can be used in different senses.

Cord Blood Banking Legal Note: Cord Blood Registry Sues Viacell

Cbr Systems Inc. (aka Cord Blood Registry) filed a complaint in March 20054 against its competitor ViaCell, Inc. and its subsidiary Viacord, Inc.

The lawsuit contends that Viacord has made false statements regarding their pricing and consumer guarantees. Cord Blood Registry also maintains the company made "unsubstantiated claims" regarding their stem cell recovery rates.

As the cord blood banking industry grows, I would guess we can expect more legal wrangling between the players. It is a competitive field and one where all participants are certain to want to maintain a strong foothold on their portion of the umbilical cord blood turf.

The article I found discussing the suit also mentions a September 2004 case involving Cord Blood Registry and PharmaStem Therapeutics.

You can read it here.

Cord Blood Registry Provides Regulation Notes

This piece, which is actually a press release (I think) disguised as a news item does provide an overview of federal cord blood regulation.

A company known as Cord Blood Registry seems to have provided the information.

Excerpt:

"First proposed in 1997, the FDA rules require cord blood banks to take specific steps to prevent contamination throughout the collection, processing, labeling, and distribution aspects of the service. The only current industry oversight is offered by the AABB (formerly the American Association of Blood Banks), which established voluntary accreditation guidelines for cord blood banks. Leading the industry, CBR also worked with the AABB and became the first family cord blood bank to achieve accreditation in 1998."

The article, not surprisingly, discusses the company/author's ability to comply with federal mandates and raises the spectre of less financially-secure cord blood banking operations to comply with the regulations regarind cord blood regulations.

You can read it here.

Donated Cord Blood and Use by the Donor

Occasionally, I am going to take a minute or two to provide answers to common questions regarding cord blood banking.

Many people wonder what happens if they donate cord blood (emphasis on Donate) and later find a need for use for that cord blood for disease treatment, etc.

Well, after donating cord blood, it is my understanding that one is placed on a national registry. That registry could be accessed and the cord blood found (if still available and not otherwise used). If one then required use of said cord blood, it would be available to them (even as the donor) if it was still available.

However, based on a recent discussion with a representative at a major cord blood banking company, it does not seem possible for one to "reclaim ownership" and to subsequently bank donated umbilical cord blood.

March of Dimes Optimistic Re: Umbilical Cord Blood's Value

The March of Dimes notes that cord blood stem cells can be used to treat at least 45 recognized medical issues and advises those with family histories of these diseases to strongly consider banking umbilical cord blood.

They also note that the lack of clear guidelines and standards for cord blood banking must be addressed. Currently, there are no universal standards governing the storage of umbilical cord blood. The FDA is considering the matter.

Excerpt:

"The March of Dimes is optimistic about the treatment possibilities using umbilical cord blood, and is assessing research results that, thus far, seem promising. However, expectant parents should be well informed so that any choice is based upon sound advice and medical evidence."


Read the statement regarding umbilical cord blood banking and stem cells here.

Congress to Support National Cord Blood Network

The potential medical benefits of stem cells found in cord blood, coupled with currently inadequate systems and registries for cord blood, has spurred the US Senate to work on legislation establishing a National Cord Blood Stem Cell Bank Network.

The $79 million project would help to cut the wait time for those needing matching cord blood stem cells.

Excerpt: "The National Cord Blood Stem Cell Bank Network would create a national resource of umbilical cord stem cells, overhauling the current system of uncoordinated public and private banks, accrediting banks, setting standards and providing much greater coordination, resources and quality assurance. There are currently only 50,000 usable units of cord blood in US public banks, and at least 100,000 more high-quality units are necessary. Kristine M. Gebbie, lead author of the IOM report also highlights the importance of a national system of cord blood collection to enable much greater research and understanding of how umbilical cord stem cells can be used to treat patients. Researchers including Joanne Kurtzberg, chief of the division of bone and marrow transplantation at Duke University, note that there will be many new uses for cord blood stem cells developing over the next two decades, in the treatment of neurodegenerative disease and other forms of tissue repair and regeneration and a national bank of umbilical cord stem cells is a vital resource."

You can read the piece, reprinted from The Scientist, by clicking here.

"Ebryonic-like" Stem Cells in Umbilical Cord Blood Show Potential to Treat Disease

According to a PRNewswire news release, a team of UK and USA researchers have discovered that the embryonic-like qualities of some stem cells found in umbilical cord blood may assist in the treatment of numerous diseases.

Excerpt:
"As emerging therapies develop, we believe that all families who have banked newborn stem cells with CBR will be able to take advantage of regenerative therapies for conditions we could all face throughout our lifetime," said Grant. "The discovery adds further support to the increasing
body of scientific evidence that newborn stem cells have significant potential for use in tissue repair. The marked growth in consumer demand for our service is a direct result of the very rapid progress being achieved with newborn stem cells."

Diabetes, spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer's disease and other ailments are considered prospects for improved treatment due to continued research of cord blood. cord blood banking, according to the release, is on an upswing due to recent discoveries.

You can read the whole piece about the power of cord blood and the growing popularity of cord blood banking by clicking here.

UK Couple Establishes Cord Blood Bank

Paul and Claire Griffith have opened Cryogenesis International, a cord blood bank.

They were inspired by a shortage of storage facility in their part of Britain.

Excerpt: "The technology was not available for their first daughter Blythe but former local government worker Paul said he and Claire were so inspired by their experience with Honore that they worked tirelessly to set up their own company, the first of its kind outside the south east of the UK. They received a licence from the Belgian lab at the end of last year. "

You can read more about the Griffiths and their cord blood bank here.

Largest Cord Blood Bank to Open in India

A South Korean biotech firm, Histostem, will be opening the world's largest umbilical cord blood bank in India.

Excerpt: "By creating similar banks in Mexico, Australia and Europe, and linking them, Histostem expects to offer histocompatibility leucocyte antigen matched stem cells for every patient around the world. The umbilical cord blood stem cells will also be used for research into treatments for diabetes and spinal cord repair. "

You can read more about the project by clicking here.

Cord Blood Pioneer Receives Award

Dr. Richard Harris received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund.

Harris is known for having performed "the first cord blood transplant in the United States."

You can read more about the cord blood doctor here.

Financial Press Considers Cord Blood Banking as a Consumer Issue

Smartmoney.com has presented a look at umbilical cord blood and cord blood banking that includes an examination of both the medical benefits of cord blood and the financial costs of banking.

The article overviews the cord blood banking process by stating:

" Stem cells from umbilical cord blood can be used to treat a variety of childhood — and in some cases, adult — illnesses, ranging from certain types of cancer to rare blood disorders. The most common uses for banked stems cells are in treatments for leukemia and other blood cancers and sickle cell anemia. In most cases, the stem cells are used on a sick sibling, but in rare instances the stem cells can be used on the donor patient. And unlike fetal stem cells, there's nothing controversial about saving cord blood, since the child isn't affected."

However, Smartmoney.com also considers the financial aspect of banking cord blood.

An excerpt:

" Private cord-blood banking is expensive. It usually costs about $1,500 to $2,000 upfront to save the blood, and $100 or more a year to store it."

The article is also critical of potentially over-the-top sales and marketing efforts on the part of the cord blood banking industry. It's an interesting read and is recommended.

You can read the whole article about the cost of cord blood banking and other issues by clicking here.

Israeli Source Discusses Cord Blood Benefits for Heart

Israel21c recently published an article regarding the use of banked umbilical cord blood and its potential to rejuvenate damaged heart tissue. The article posits that cord blood could be used to repair myocardial damage.

An excerpt from the article:

"Now Israeli researchers are at the forefront of research which could one day make heart transplants obsolete - using stem cell technology, they're developing a way to use the blood of a newborn baby's discarded umbilical cord (UCB) as an unlimited source of stem/progenitor cells that could be injected into the injured heart in order to regenerate damaged heart tissue."

You can read the entire piece regarding UCB by clicking here.

Newspaper Overviews Cord Blood Collection

A recent Detroit Free Press piece provides a brief overview of the cord blood collection process.

For instance, it discusses the process like this:

"Blood obtained from the umbilical cord of a baby minutes after birth can be used in transplant procedures for as many as 80 diseases. It can be saved for research or private purposes. It is a safe, quick procedure with no risks to mother or baby. The blood can be stored for at least 10 years, perhaps longer. It's preferable to bone marrow for transplants because there's less of a need for it to be a perfect match. It carries a lower chance of rejection by the recipient and a lower risk of contamination."

You can read the entire article about cord blood banking and collection by clicking here.

Balanced Look at Cord Blood Banking

"Is It Worth Banking Your Baby's Cord Blood," an article from the June, 2005, edition of Stem Cell, provides a relatively balanced look at the cord blood banking decisionmaking process.

The article covers both the potential benefits of banking umbilical cord blood, as well as some of the questions regarding the process' necessity.

An excerpt:

"The potential for use is very small right now but could be very great in the future," said Dr. Michael Trigg, who chairs Cryo-Cell's medical and scientific advisory board and is chief of the division of blood and bone marrow transplantation at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Del. "It's expensive, and you will have to pay for it every year. But you just have no idea what life holds for you or the curative potential of those blood cells sitting in storage."

You can read the entirety of the article by clicking this link.