The rats treated in the study with cord blood stem cells experienced a significantly improved recovery of locomotor function (the ability to move from place to place) over a six week period compared to untreated rats.  In addition, six weeks after treatment, the injured area was noticeably smaller in the treated animals than in the untreated animals.

Most spinal cord injuries are compression injuries, in which the damaged nerve cells in the spinal cord are still intact, but have lost a coating called myelin that helps them transmit signals from the brain to the rest of the body, leaving them nonfunctional.  Lost myelin does not regularly grow back on its own following an injury, and so the goal of this study was to determine if cord blood stem cells could help initiate its regeneration in rats with compression injuries to the spinal cord. 

Research to date has shown increasing evidence that stem cells from cord blood have the ability to help with repairing and regenerating other cells in the body by helping to regulate inflammation, assisting with the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) and promoting cellular growth by secreting proteins and other growth factors.

This study adds to the growing body of evidence that supports the therapeutic use of cord blood stem cells for nerve repair. 

The rats treated in the study with cord blood stem cells experienced a significantly improved recovery of locomotor function (the ability to move from place to place) over a six week period compared to untreated rats.  In addition, six weeks after treatment, the injured area was noticeably smaller in the treated animals than in the untreated animals.

Most spinal cord injuries are compression injuries, in which the damaged nerve cells in the spinal cord are still intact, but have lost a coating called myelin that helps them transmit signals from the brain to the rest of the body, leaving them nonfunctional.  Lost myelin does not regularly grow back on its own following an injury, and so the goal of this study was to determine if cord blood stem cells could help initiate its regeneration in rats with compression injuries to the spinal cord. 

Research to date has shown increasing evidence that stem cells from cord blood have the ability to help with repairing and regenerating other cells in the body by helping to regulate inflammation, assisting with the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) and promoting cellular growth by secreting proteins and other growth factors.

This study adds to the growing body of evidence that supports the therapeutic use of cord blood stem cells for nerve repair. 

Many parents are also unaware that if you divide out the total cost of cord blood processing and annual storage at CBR for the first 18 years of a child’s life, banking a newborn’s cord blood costs less than a typical cell phone plan—about $18 per month. 

But having a baby involves many costs – and they all hit the family budget at about the same time.  That’s why this year during Cord Blood Awareness Month, we want to make expectant couples aware of a unique program that allows friends and families to contribute the entire cost of cord blood banking:  The CBR Gift Registry.

Through The CBR Gift Registry, expectant parents can receive contributions toward both the initial collection and processing fees as well as the annual storage costs.  Inviting friends and family members to contribute is easy: After you’ve enrolled in The CBR Gift Registry, you can send customized email announcements or print contribution cards to include in baby shower invitations.

Starting this month, parents can sign up for The CBR Gift Registry even before enrolling in CBR’s service.  It’s a gift for life that your newborn won’t outgrow.

Many parents are also unaware that if you divide out the total cost of cord blood processing and annual storage at CBR for the first 18 years of a child’s life, banking a newborn’s cord blood costs less than a typical cell phone plan—about $18 per month. 

But having a baby involves many costs – and they all hit the family budget at about the same time.  That’s why this year during Cord Blood Awareness Month, we want to make expectant couples aware of a unique program that allows friends and families to contribute the entire cost of cord blood banking:  The CBR Gift Registry.

Through The CBR Gift Registry, expectant parents can receive contributions toward both the initial collection and processing fees as well as the annual storage costs.  Inviting friends and family members to contribute is easy: After you’ve enrolled in The CBR Gift Registry, you can send customized email announcements or print contribution cards to include in baby shower invitations.

Starting this month, parents can sign up for The CBR Gift Registry even before enrolling in CBR’s service.  It’s a gift for life that your newborn won’t outgrow.

While awareness of the medical value of cord blood stem cells is on the rise, the need for more education remains. According to a 2006 study published in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine, three out of four expectant mothers who have heard of cord blood banking consider themselves minimally informed.

The need for greater education was the driving force behind the creation of the Cord Blood Education Center, an online program that informs expectant parents about their options for cord blood. Developed by CBR with input from healthcare providers, stem cell researchers and experts in public banking, the program describes all of the options available to expectant parents and is designed to give them access to information early enough in pregnancy so that they can make an informed choice about the storage, donation or disposal of their newborn’s cord blood stem cells. 

Even if you are aware about cord blood stem cells, you may not know all of the facts.  We invite you to take a moment to explore the Cord Blood Education Center and be sure to pass it on to others who can benefit from cord blood education. 

While awareness of the medical value of cord blood stem cells is on the rise, the need for more education remains. According to a 2006 study published in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine, three out of four expectant mothers who have heard of cord blood banking consider themselves minimally informed.

The need for greater education was the driving force behind the creation of the Cord Blood Education Center, an online program that informs expectant parents about their options for cord blood. Developed by CBR with input from healthcare providers, stem cell researchers and experts in public banking, the program describes all of the options available to expectant parents and is designed to give them access to information early enough in pregnancy so that they can make an informed choice about the storage, donation or disposal of their newborn’s cord blood stem cells. 

Even if you are aware about cord blood stem cells, you may not know all of the facts.  We invite you to take a moment to explore the Cord Blood Education Center and be sure to pass it on to others who can benefit from cord blood education. 

In honor of Father’s Day this weekend and in celebration of fathers everywhere, we bring you a few of our favorite quotes about some of the most important men in our lives. Here’s to you, Dad!

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at   how much he had learned in seven years.  — Mark Twain

Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap on a rope. — Bill Cosby

The older I get, the smarter my father seems to get. –Tim Russert
 
I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection. – Sigmund Freud

It’s only when you grow up and step back from him―or leave him for your own home―it’s only then that you can measure his greatness and fully appreciate it. –   Margaret Truman (spoken about her father, Harry S. Truman)

To the more than 330,000 CBR dads out there: Happy Father’s Day!  Be proud of who you are and what you do!

In honor of Father’s Day this weekend and in celebration of fathers everywhere, we bring you a few of our favorite quotes about some of the most important men in our lives. Here’s to you, Dad!

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at   how much he had learned in seven years.  — Mark Twain

Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap on a rope. — Bill Cosby

The older I get, the smarter my father seems to get. –Tim Russert
 
I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection. – Sigmund Freud

It’s only when you grow up and step back from him―or leave him for your own home―it’s only then that you can measure his greatness and fully appreciate it. –   Margaret Truman (spoken about her father, Harry S. Truman)

To the more than 330,000 CBR dads out there: Happy Father’s Day!  Be proud of who you are and what you do!

Cord blood has a tendency to coagulate – or form clots – after it’s been collected, which can interfere with stem cell processing and preservation.  To prevent clotting, cord blood collection devices are pre-loaded with an anticoagulant.  CPD, which has been commercially-available for decades, was originally developed to extend the shelf life of red blood cells collected for use in blood transfusion therapies for patients with severe blood loss or anemia.  However, red blood cells are typically discarded in the process of saving cord blood stem cells.  Consequently, CBR developed its proprietary lyophilized heparin with the goal of preserving cord blood stem cells–instead of red blood cells.

CBR’s research and development efforts continue to ensure the optimal numbers of stem cells available for medical use.

Click here to read more about the study results, as well as other advantages of lyophilized heparin over CPD.

Cord blood has a tendency to coagulate – or form clots – after it’s been collected, which can interfere with stem cell processing and preservation.  To prevent clotting, cord blood collection devices are pre-loaded with an anticoagulant.  CPD, which has been commercially-available for decades, was originally developed to extend the shelf life of red blood cells collected for use in blood transfusion therapies for patients with severe blood loss or anemia.  However, red blood cells are typically discarded in the process of saving cord blood stem cells.  Consequently, CBR developed its proprietary lyophilized heparin with the goal of preserving cord blood stem cells–instead of red blood cells.

CBR’s research and development efforts continue to ensure the optimal numbers of stem cells available for medical use.

Click here to read more about the study results, as well as other advantages of lyophilized heparin over CPD.