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Paid Parental Leave for Grandparents in Sweden In a world first move, Sweden has introduced legislation allowing grandparents to receive paid parental leave while caring for their grandchildren.  The new law, which took effect last year, enables grandparents to step in and get paid for looking after their grandchildren for up to 3 months of…

Hope on the Horizon for Preterm Babies Australian researchers have discovered a potential new lifeline for the tiniest and most vulnerable newborns. Scientists at Monash Children’s Hospital have successfully collected and reinfused umbilical cord blood cells in extremely premature babies, offering a glimmer of hope for preventing brain injuries. This pioneering research has successfully demonstrated…

Umbilical Cord Blood for Knee Joint Cartilage Issues: A Review Umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cell transplantation as a novel method for repairing knee joint cartilage has shown promising results in clinical settings, providing an effective treatment option for patients with these issues. A new review of the clinical research into the use of umbilical…

A New Frontier: Cord Blood Stem Cells in the Treatment of Crohn’s Disease A groundbreaking study has explored the potential of using autologous cord blood stem cells for treating refractory Crohn’s Disease – a condition where standard treatments fail to manage symptoms. The trial evaluated the long-term effects of using a patient’s own stored cord…

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…