News
Stem cell treatment increases breast cancer survival
Every year, 600 women die of breast cancer in New Zealand, and 11% of all women are expected to be diagnosed during their lifetime. However a study undertaken by doctors at the Stanford School of Medicine is hoping to one day make this a thing of the past. The study found that women with advanced…
Cord Blood Collections Now Available at National Women’s Hospital
June 2011 saw the start of a training programme for midwives at National Women’s Hospital, as part of an agreement with the ADHB to provide the cord blood collection service for parents under their care. This is great news for mums- to-be who will be delivering at the hospital, and we are delighted that this…
Cord Blood Trial to help Premature and Low Birth-weight Babies
Doctors at the Ain Shams University Medical School in Cairo have registered a clinical trial with the United States National Institute of Health that aims to infuse premature and low birth-weight (less than 3.3 pounds) newborn infants with their own cord blood to speed up lung development and therefore reliance on respiratory machinery in neonatal…
Cord Blood Aids Diabetic Wound Healing
Diabetics are naturally prone to a large array of complications and infections, most of which are worsened by their inability to heal well. But transplanting cord blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) has been found to “significantly accelerate” wound closure in diabetic mice, says a team of Korean researchers. EPCs are rare cells that circulate in…
Clinical Trial Looks to bring Cord Blood Treatment for Cerebral Palsy Closer to Home
A clinical trial currently awaiting approval will mean that children suffering from cerebral palsy like Zac and Maia won’t have to travel to the United States for treatment with their own cord blood. As reported in The Sydney Morning Herald, researchers at Melbourne’s Monash Medical Centre are currently awaiting approval to start a clinical trial…
First Australian Child Receives Cord Blood Treatment at Duke University
When 5 year old Australian child, Zac Archer suffered a stroke at 4 months of age, he was left with profound cerebral palsy and epilepsy. In a twist of fate, Zac’s mum Gabrielle had donated his cord blood to a public blood bank in Australia. Remarkably, it was still in storage when they discovered the…
Cord Blood Cells Show Promise for Alzheimer’s Patients
Researchers from the University of South Florida and their private sector collaborators say transplanting stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood may offer future therapeutic benefit for those suffering the degenerative and ultimately fatal Alzheimer’s disease, which affects around 43,000 New Zealanders. Those figures are projected to double in the next 15 years, and to…
Dr Wise Young speaks about Spinal Injury & Cord Blood
Eminent neuroscientist Dr Wise Young delivered hope to practitioners and patients alike during his visit to New Zealand recently to raise awareness regarding his clinical trials treating spinal cord injury. Young is the founding director of the W M Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience and a professor at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey….
New hope for the Hasselman family
Little Lily Hasselman has already been through a great deal in her first five years. She was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at just six weeks of age and as a result has to endure daily painful physiotherapy, take medication with every meal, and undergo constant medical checks. Cystic Fibrosis is a life-shortening genetic condition, with…
Wise words…
Dr Wise Young answered your questions on the future of umbilical cord stem cell therapy to cure spinal cord injury when he visited New Zealand as a guest of CordBank in February 2011. Q. ” In your opinion, how far do you think we are, realistically, from finding a cure for SCI?” A: I believe…