When a baby is born, the placenta and umbilical cord that attached the infant to his or her mother are usually thrown away as of no further use – in fact nothing could be further from the truth. The blood they contain has unique properties. It can be used to replace damaged bone marrow or for research that c
ould lead to the successful treatment of a host of other diseases and conditions.
Cord blood contains high levels of stem cells that can renew bone marrow and thus the source of blood and T regulatory cells that are able to regenerate the immune system.
At present about 40% of collected cord bloods contain enough stem cells to be used for transplantation; the remaining 60% are thrown away as no further use. Because the cells come from a newborn they are ‘naïve’ and able to change which increases their potential for developing new treatments. The ‘60%’ do contain enough stem cells to allow research scientists to develop astonishing new therapies.Through research, cord blood opens up a whole new future of possibilities of tissue transplantation and regenerative medicine.What’s more, cord blood is easy to collect and there is no risk to the baby or mother.
By harvesting cord blood for banking and research, The Anthony Nolan Trust Cord Blood Bank will be able to save the waste of this amazing resource, and help save thousands of lives.
To see Secretary of State Alan Johnson with donating mothers and find out about Anthony Nolan Cell Therapy Centre click here.
