News
Thinking ahead paid off for Barrett family
When 9-year-old Barrett Ross was born, his parents chose to save the blood from his umbilical cord – ignoring the genetic counselor who told them there was no need for the expense. There was nothing in the family’s background to indicate potential disease for the newborn, the counselor told the new parents. (Uninformed advice that…
Almost $1 billion invested in cord blood research last year
Over $938 million was invested in using cord blood stem cells to treat a whole host of illnesses and conditions in the US last year. Researchers are confident that these non-controversial stem cells will make a significant difference to the way that diseases and illnesses are treated in the future. Current research shows that stem…
Irish parents urged to sue hospital over refusal to collect cord blood
A leading stem cell biologist has urged Irish parents who are refused the right to collect their babies’ umbilical cord blood for storage as future medical use, to sue the hospitals if their children later develop diseases such as cerebral palsy, stroke, and type 1 diabetes which can be treated with cord blood. Professor Colin…
Expectant parents in NZ need to know more about cord blood benefits
Expectant parents need to know more about cord blood benefits. The founder of an international website dedicated to cord blood awareness has called for more education amongst expectant parents about cord blood banking, and launched a new information brochure to help spread knowledge. “I want all women to understand why cord blood must be preserved…
Cord blood shows more promise in Stage 2 diabetic trial
The second stage of an innovative trial using cord blood to treat children with Type 1 diabetes is now underway at the University of Florida College of Medicine. In this phase 2 study the investigators are trying to see if a single intravenous infusion of autologous (self) cord blood cells followed by 1 year of…
Maia’s cord blood miracle – latest NZ progress “nothing short of remarkable”
The parents of Maia Friedlander, the first NZ child treated with her own cord blood after suffering brain damage at birth, have told local media that her progress has been nothing short of remarkable. In an interview with the Herald on Sunday earlier this month, Maia’s father, Daniel Friedlander said recent independent educational and occupational testing…
Record number of New Zealand midwives trained in cord blood collection
The launch of our new online training programme has seen a big increase in the number of midwives who are now licensed to collect cord blood for local families. Midwives now feature in the top ten most active collectors of cord blood – making the service even more accessible nationwide. Families have told us that they look for a midwife…
Why Invercargill NZ Parents Banked Baby’s Cord Blood
Although it is a service most parents hope they will never have to use, more and more people are investing in their child’s future by banking their umbilical cord blood. Invercargill parents Bronwyn and Chris Hughes are two parents who have no regrets they made the decision to store their children’s cord blood. Read the…
A very small price to pay say NZ parents of cancer survivor after treatment with her own cord blood
In an article published recently in the Sunday Star-Times, a New Zealand doctor questioned the likelihood of the use and value of cord blood banking. In response, the parents of the child successfully treated with her own cord blood for a neuroblastoma, wrote to the paper to express their concern at the inaccurate information published….