About Stem Cells

What are stem cells?

Stem cells are a unique type of cell.  They are commonly referred to as the 'master cells' of the body, having the ability to divide to create new stem cells. In addition, a stem cell has the ability to produce specialised cells in the body, such as heart muscle, brain tissue and red and white blood cells.

Adult stem cells have been identified in many organs and tissues. One important point to understand about adult stem cells is that there are a very small number of stem cells in each tissue. Stem cells are thought to reside in a specific area of each tissue where they may remain quiescent (non-dividing) for many years until they are activated by disease or tissue injury.

The adult tissues reported to contain stem cells include brain, bone marrow, peripheral blood, blood vessels, skeletal muscle, skin and liver.

About umbilical cord blood stem cells

Umbilical cord blood is a rich source of stem cells. Umbilical cord blood stem cells are one of the most naïve types of cell in the body and are created during the earliest phases of development . 

Umbilical cord blood stem cell transplants are less prone to rejection than either bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells. This is probably because the cells have not yet developed the features that can be recognized and attacked by the recipient's immune system. Also, because umbilical cord blood lacks well-developed immune cells, there is less chance that the transplanted cells will attack the recipient's body, a problem called graft versus host disease.

Both the versatility and availability of umbilical cord blood stem cells makes them a potent resource for transplant therapies.

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