Why store stem cells?

Think of stem cells as the building blocks of the human body because they have the ability to transform into different types of cells throughout the human body. It is their power to create and regenerate organs, blood, tissue, and the immune system that make them so important.

Stem cells can be found throughout the body – in your bone marrow, or fatty tissue, for instance. These can and have been used in treating illnesses, but it’s the younger, more flexible stem cells that are found in your newborn baby’s umbilical cord blood and tissue that offer your child advanced scientific opportunities for health. They can be collected and stored at birth in a painless, non-invasive procedure and then stored for future use. If your child ever has a health issue that requires treatment with stem cells, they will be readily available.

Using stem cells to treat disease

The unique ability of stem cells to differentiate into different types of cells make them important in medical therapies. Stem cell transplantation, using stem cells from sources such as bone marrow, has been used in medical procedures for more than 50 years, with more than 1 million blood stem cell transplants across the world playing an important role in the treatment of bone marrow failures, blood cancers, blood disorders, metabolic diseases, immune deficiencies and autoimmune diseases.

More than 35 000 cord blood transplants have been performed worldwide. Stem cells from umbilical cord blood and tissue have successfully been used to treat more than 80 serious diseases, including conditions like leukaemia, lymphoma and osteoporosis.

To date, these include:

LEUKAEMIA & LYMPHOMAS

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Acute myelogenous leukemia.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Chronic myelogenous leukemia.
Hodgkin lymphoma.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia.

SEVERE APLASTIC ANAEMIA AND OTHER MARROW FAILURE STATES

A group of disorders that result in the failure of normal
functioning of cells in the bone marrow.
Amegakaryocytosis/congenital thrombocytopenia.
Fanconi anemia.
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria(PNH).
Pure red cell aplasia.
Severe aplastic anemia.

SCID AND OTHER INHERITED IMMUNE SYSTEM DISORDERS

Diseases in which children are born without
an immune system or with an incomplete
immune system.
Severe combined immunodeficiency
(SCID, all sub-types)
Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

MULTIPLE MYELOMA
AND OTHER
PLASMA CELL DISORDERS

Cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow.

HAEMOGLOBINOPATHIES

Genetic defects that result in abnormal structure
of one of the globin chains of the haemoglobin molecule
that is responsible for carrying oxygen in the blood.
Beta thalassemia major.
Sickle cell disease.ia.

HURLER’S SYNDROME AND OTHER
INHERITED METABOLIC DISORDERS

A group of inherited diseases in which the lack of an enzyme
affects various organs and tissues, including the brain.
Enzymes are proteins that play many roles,
including metabolizing (breaking down)
of substances in the body.
Adrenoleukodystrophy.
Hurler’s syndrome (MPS-IH).
Metachromatic leukodystrophy.

MYELODYSPLASTIC AND
MYELOPROLIFERATIVE DISORDERS

A group of diseases that affect the bone marrow and blood.
It can also develop into a fast-growing,
severe leukaemia called acute myelogenous leukaemia.
Agnogenic myeloid metaplasia (myelofibrosis).
Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia.
Refractory anaemia (all types).

FAMILIAL ERYTHROPHAGOCYTIC
LYMPHOHISTIOCYTOSIS AND OTHER
HISTIOCYTIC DISORDERS

Diseases that occur when there is an over-production
of white blood cells known as histiocytes
that can lead to organ damage and
tumour formation.

Future treatments on the horizon

As medical science continues its research into stem cells and their flexibility, the list of possible treatments grows. Recent research into the stem cells found in cord tissue has shown potential in regenerative medicine.

These cells, also known as mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), can transform into many types of cells and tissues, including organs, muscles, skin and bone. Trials are underway that look into using stem cell therapies with MSC to potentially treat autism, cerebral palsy, diabetes, spinal injuries and many others.