Cord Blood Research Paper

Cord Blood Cells. Today medicine has reached great success in the treatment and prevention of many illnesses. Currently, scientists and doctors are paying more attention to technology of cells. Cord blood is the blood that remains in a newborn's umbilical cord after birth. Cord blood, like bone marrow, is an invaluable source of a type of stem cell that can be used in a variety of medical treatments. New parents now have the option of taking an active role in treating future illness much like a biological insurance policy. A process known as cord blood banking allows families to save these valuable resources for potential future medical use. Currently, the clinical use of hemopoietic cells derived from bone marrow is the gold standard
The first clinically documented use of cord blood stem cells was in the successful treatment of a six-year-old boy afflicted by Fanconi anemia in 1988. Since then, cord blood has become increasingly recognized as a source of stem cells that can be used in stem cell therapy. According to the esteemed Columbia University professor, Tse W, cord blood has unique advantages over traditional bone marrow transplantation, particularly in children, and can be life-saving in rare cases where a suitable bone-marrow donor cannot be found. Approximately 50% of patients requiring a bone marrow transplant will not find a suitable donor within a critical period. In certain instances, there may be some medical issues around using one's own cord blood cells, as well as availability of cells, which will require treatments done using cells from another donor, with the vast majority being unrelated donors. However, studies have shown that cord blood stem cells can also be used for siblings and other members of your family who have a matching tissue type. Siblings have up to a 75% chance of compatibility, and the cord blood may even be a match for parents (50%) and