WHAT ARE STEM CELLS?
Further information about stem cells and what they can do
Stem cells are unique cells because they have the ability to generate new cells of almost any kind.
Stem cells start off as unspecialised cells but given the right chemical and genetic signals can divide to form more specialised cells of different size, shape and function , eventually giving rise to highly specialised cells.
These can then serve as a repair and maintenance system for other body, blood and immune system cells by multiplying and transforming in to bone, blood, tissue and organ cells when they are required to. At Smart Cells we store stem cells found in the umbilical cord blood and tissue. These potent cells find their way to injured cells and tissue in the body and begin to replace them.
What are cord blood stem cells used for?
Viable CD34+:
Read more about cord blood stem cells, the way we count them and why numbers are important:
Why store my baby’s cord blood stem cells?
Stem cell therapy holds great promise for treating and perhaps one day curing many diseases. For those who are already suffering from a disease that stem cells can treat, storing stem cells may have a personal importance and relevance.
For others, it is likely that at some point in their life, they or a loved one will be affected by a disease that stem cells can treat.
References:
It is well accepted that there are over 80 diseases for which transplants of blood-forming stem cells (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplants (HSCT) are a standard treatment. Follow these links to see more information:
- Parent’s Guide to Cord Blood
- Cord Blood Banking FAQ
- European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
For more innovative stem cell based treatments that have not been adopted as standard therapies, patients may be treated as part of clinical trials. ClinicalTrials.gov has a database listing such trials internationally.
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FIRST TRANSPLANT
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SUCCESSFUL TRANSPLANTS
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DISEASES
Facts and figures
Over the years we have seen that stem cell transplantation has become an established procedure and the number of transplants being carried out year on year show a continued increase.
References:
- World Health Organisation: http://www.who.int/transplantation/hsctx/en/
- Armitage S (2016) Cord Blood Banking Standards: Autologous Versus Altruistic. Front. Med. 2:94. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2015.00094
Fighting disease and illness
Over 35,000 cord blood transplants have taken place around the world and have been used in the treatment of:
(*Innovative early clinical trials)
References:
Use of privately banked autologous umbilical cord blood to treat brain injuries in paediatric patients. A. Smith, J. Sun, J. Allison, M. Mimbrero-Ramirez, K. Hussain,J. Kurtzberg. Bone Marrow Transplantation, Volume 51, Issue S1 (2016), p S568. Follow the link to see more information:
More than 35,000 unrelated CB units have been distributed worldwide by public banks for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants.
Armitage S (2016) Cord Blood Banking Standards: Autologous Versus Altruistic. Front. Med. 2:94. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2015.00094