Cord blood transplants hold promise for treating a wide range of diseases, from cancer and diabetes to rare genetic disorders. Within the cord blood are blood-forming stem cells, known as hematopoietic stem cells. Transplantation of these stem cells into patients with chronic or life-threatening diseases allows regrowth or regeneration of healthy cells.

Thus, cord blood stem cell transplants are a form of regenerative medicine, a branch of medicine that replaces, regrows, or repairs tissues damaged by disease, trauma, or congenital issues. Therefore, rather than treating the symptoms of a disease, regenerative medicine provides restorative, therapeutic, and even curative benefits to the patient.

Currently, there are nearly 80 diseases cord blood transplants can treat or potentially cure. As of this year, there are over 200 clinical trials worldwide investigating the use of cord blood stem cells in regenerative therapy and its effectiveness in the treatment of many blood disorders, as well as conditions unrelated to blood, such as cerebral palsy, gestational diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Autism, and stroke. If successful, these clinical trials may lead to the approval of new and better treatments from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients in need.

Advancement of clinical trials and final approval by the FDA for treatment depends on the innovative research conducted at academic institutions and within the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. Donor contributions, such as the donation of cord blood for research, fuels the progress of their research.