Stem cells have the power to change and save lives

Stem cells are the body's "master" cells that regenerate and turn into all different cells that form the variety of tissues, organs, and systems in the human body. The first use of stem cells in medicine was to regenerate healthy blood and immune cells in cancer patients after they received chemotherapy. In an exciting new area of medicine called regenerative medicine, scientists are focusing on using cord blood stem cells for the treatment of brain injury, and juvenile diabetes.

What are Newborn Stem Cells?

Newborn stem cells can be found in cord blood and the umbilical cord itself (cord tissue). These are non-controversial sources of valuable stem cells that are collected after the umbilical cord has been cut, and would otherwise be discarded.

Newborn Stem Cells from Cord Blood: Cord blood is a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells, which turn into all of the cells in your body's blood and immune system.
Newborn Stem Cells from Cord Tissue: Cord tissue is one of the richest sources of a type of stem cell called mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which create structural and connective tissue.

Are Newborn Stem Cells Different From Other Stem Cells?

Newborn stem cells are different from adult and embryonic stem cells and have a number of advantages:

Cord blood stem cells can replicate and produce more cells - approximately 8X faster than adult stem cells.¹
Unlike adult cells, they are "immunologically immature," so they have a higher chance of being used between family members with less risk of rejection.
Cord blood stem cells that are frozen at birth are more "pristine" and have not experienced the same cell aging and virus exposure as adult stem cells.
Newborn stem cells are not embryonic stem cells and are not controversial

1. van de Ven C, Collins D, Bradley MB, Morris E, Cairo MS. The potential of umbilical cord blood multipotent stem cells for nonhematopoietic tissue and cell regeneration. Exp Hematol. 2007;35(12):1753-1765.