How far along is research in cord blood, tissue and placenta stem cells?

Research in cord blood, tissue, and placenta stem cells has advanced significantly in recent years. There are numerous clinical trials currently underway which are exploring the potential of the umbilical cord blood and placenta stem cells.

58% (598) of all current clinical trials are in oncology, including leukemia, lymphoma, and cancers of the brain, breast, bladder, cervix, colon, esophagus, ovaries, pancreas, and others.

7% (67) are in cardiovascular disorders, including congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, critical limb ischemia, heart disease, and others.

6% (58) are in musculoskeletal disorders, including spinal muscular atrophy, osteoarthritis, muscular dystrophies, cartilage defects, and bone fractures and disorders, and others.

‍

Cord blood, tissue, and placenta stem cells can potentially be used to:

• Improve motor skills in children with cerebral palsy
• Reverse Type 1 Diabetes
• Promote protective effects on hair loss
• Show promise as heart failure treatment
• Significantly improve symptoms of Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel syndrome
• Treat neurological and immune disorders (placenta, specifically)
• Treat acne scars (placenta, specifically)
• Treat leukemia
• Promote CAR T-cell therapy, which is an immunotherapy that fights cancer
• Immune cell therapy

"Children [with cerebral palsy] who received one intravenous dose of at least 25 million stem cells per kilogram of their body weight saw improvements in motor function a year later." - This amazing study is just one of the many cases where cord blood stem cells are showing their potential. Read more about it in our blog covering the article.

"Stem cells (SC) from umbilical cord blood (UCB) are now a new reliable alternative to treat different blood diseases, if the samples are frozen at the moment of birth. Human umbilical cord blood, with its real abundance, simple collection procedure and no serious ethical dilemmas, represents a valuable alternative to the use of other stem cell sources." - This is what BBC covers in the story of Actress Selma Blair has said she is "in remission" from multiple sclerosis.

‍‍

To learn more in-depth, check out our post The Research and Science Behind Stem Cell and Cord Blood Banking with Anja and our Cord Blood Banking Library, as well as our Science Page where you can find more infographic and case studies.