Research and News

Recent preclinical research has produced encouraging preliminary data supporting the use of cord blood stem cells as a potential therapy for conditions such as cerebral palsy, brain injury, juvenilediabetes, and hearing loss. Recent updates on clinical applications of cord blood are summarized in this 2011 article from Experimental Hematology.

More information can be found below in a selected sample of papers published in peer-reviewed journals, presentations from major medical meetings, and media coverage of the emerging data involving cord blood stem cell studies and regenerative medicine applications.

Neurological Conditions
Animal and human studies are investigating the potential of using one's own cord blood stem cells to improve conditions associated with neurological damage, such as anoxic brain injury at birth, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, and stroke.

Clinical Trial in Juvenile Diabetes
The University of Florida is conducting a clinical trial to determine the potential of cord blood stem cells to regenerate insulin production in juvenile diabetes patients.

• The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) is actively recruiting for the first Phase I safety study investigating the use of a child’s own umbilical cord blood stem cells for traumatic brain injury in children. The study is being performed in conjunction with Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, UTHealth’s primary children’s teaching hospital.


o TBI study protocol on Clinical Trials.gov
o Aprecursor to this study involved treating children who
had suffered traumatic brain injury with their own bon
marrow stem cells.
• Study results published in March, 2011 Neurosurgery
• Television segment of University of Texas neurologist and clinical researcher James E. Baumgartner, M.D. discussing the potential of cord blood stem cells to treat traumatic brain injury
• Dr. Charles Cox, University of Texas Pediatric Surgeon and clinical researcher, outlines how cord blood is being used to treat children with all types of brain injury.
• A collection of stories about one child’s progress after being diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy as an infant and receiving an autologous transplant.

1. Cord Blood Changed My Daughter's Life
2. Girl's Own Cord Blood Used to Treat Her Brain Injury
3. Chloe’s progress – Hippotherapy and starting kindergarten

• A Meier, et al study published in Pediatric Research (2006) demonstrates that cord blood stem cells migrate to damaged brain tissue in rats, alleviating brain damage symptoms
• In a study published in the journal BMC Neuroscience (2008), researchers from the University of South Florida demonstrate that injection of human umbilical cord blood in rats improved function in the aging brain.

Hearing Loss
Recruiting is underway for a Phase 1 study at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital investigating the use of a child’s own cord blood stem cells to treat acquired hearing loss. This first-of-its-kind intervention is researching the ability of the cord blood stem cells to stimulate cellular repair and restore hearing.

• Hearing Loss trial protocol on clinicaltrials.gov
• Read a study published in Cell Transplantation (2008) demonstrating that animal subjects whose hearing was damaged and were treated with cord blood stem cells showed significant healing to the damaged portion of the inner ear.

Juvenile Diabetes (also known as Type 1 Diabetes)
Studies are underway at The University of Florida investigating the potential of cord blood stem cells to preserve insulin production in patientswith juvenile diabetes.

• Haller M, Wasserfall C, Mcgrail K, et al. Autologous Umbilical Cord Blood Transfusion in Very Young Children with T1D: 1 Year Follow‐Up, 2009.
• Television news story: Diabetes Clinical Trial: Dr. Desmond Schatz
• Webcast presentation of the data presented at the ADA 67th ADA Scientific Sessions:

Tissue Regeneration
Studies are currently underway investigating the ability of cord blood stem cells to differentiate into a wide variety of cell types including bone, cartilage and heart tissue.

According to research presented at the 2008 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, children with heart defects may someday receive perfectly-matched new heart valves built using stem cells from their umbilical cord blood.

• Study presented at 2008 AHA Scientific Sessions

Foundations of Cord Blood Stem Cell Science

• McGuckin, et al study (2008) demonstrates that cord blood stem cells contain embryonic-like stem cells possessing embryonic properties
• Harris, et al study (2007) concludes that umbilical cord blood is a unique source of stem cells for regenerative medicine.
• C. van de Ven, et al study (2007) concludes that umbilical cord blood has the ability to differentiate into many different cell types --such as cardiac, neuronal, hepatic and epithelial -- and thus "may be a suitable alternative to embryonic stem cells for tissue replacement and repair."
• A study presented by Joanne Kurtzberg, M.D. at the 2005 American Society of Hematology Meeting suggests that cord blood is capable of is a unique stem cell source for cellular therapies in the future.
• A Meier, et al study published in Pediatric Research (2006) demonstrates that cord blood stem cells migrate to damaged brain tissue in rats, alleviating brain damage symptoms.
• A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (2005) demonstrated improved neurological outcomes in newborns with Krabbe disease who were treated with umbilical cord blood.

Our Members

Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA)

National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH)

Parent's Guide to Cord Blood Foundation

Dr. Ian Rogers, University of Toronto

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