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When Xiao An was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia at age 18, his parents were grateful for a decision they’d made at his birth – storing his cord blood stem cells. The teenager had suddenly developed symptoms including ulcers and blood spots. Tests revealed he had aplastic anemia, a serious autoimmune condition where the body…

New research from King’s College London in collaboration with UCL and University of Leeds suggests that food fussiness is largely genetic. For parents struggling with picky eaters, this research offers some relief, confirming that genes play a bigger role than previously thought. Lead author of the study, Zeynep Nas said he hoped the findings may…

Cord blood stem cells may hold the key to preventing Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) – a major cause of irreversible blindness in preterm newborns. ROP results from abrupt alterations in oxygen levels impacting the retina’s development. Standard treatment involves transfusions of packed red blood cells from adult donors. However, this can lead to a rapid…

A new study shows cord blood stem cell remain viable after 27 years of cryogenic storage. The research, conducted at the US based laboratory of the late cord blood pioneer Hal Broxmeyer, extends the facility’s previous findings on cord blood’s longevity, when tested at 5, 10, 15, and 23.5 years. See the study here. According…

Stem cells for glaucoma treatment? As March is NZ Glaucoma Awareness Month, it’s timely to recognise that around 2% of New Zealanders over 40 years of age have glaucoma –  a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve. Now, stem cells are being investigated as a possible treatment. Read more about this research…

Cord blood hope for prem babies A first-of-its-kind study is underway to see if cord blood cells are effective in preventing premature newborns from developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) which is relatively common in preterm infants. BPD is a breathing disorder in premature infants where the infants’ lungs become irritated and do not develop normally. It…

Could cord blood help treat long COVID? While we have been focusing on the weather emergencies here in New Zealand, COVID-19 is still very much around and we are hearing constant reports about the debilitating condition known as long Covid. Now, a Californian cord blood regenerative therapeutics company is about to enter phase two of…

Happy birthday to us! 20 years of CordBank NZ     2022 is a special year for us at CordBank: our 20th anniversary. Our co-founder, Jenni Raynish, reflects on the road she travelled to establish and grow the only service licensed to process and store cord blood right here in New Zealand.   “I first…

CordBank’s 20th Birthday – An Interview With Biz Today. Co-Founder and CEO Jenni Raynish joins Dominic Bowden on WellBeings, to celebrate CordBank’s 20th birthday. In this interview, Jenni reflects on why she co-founded CordBank here in New Zealand, the medical advancements of the last 20 years, and importantly why she wants all parents to know…

Preterm brain injury cord blood stem cell study   A PhD student at Monash University in Melbourne has been awarded the 2021 European Society for Paediatric Research Young Investigator Start Up Grant of 10,000 Euro for research on cord blood stem cell treatment for newborns with brain injury. Dr Lindsay Zhou is investigating the use…