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What are Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells?
Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells
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Umbilical cord blood is another source of adult stem cells. It is collected from the umbilical cord and
placenta after a baby is born and is rich in adult stem cells.
Like bone marrow, umbilical cord blood is a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells.
These hematopoietic stem cells are usually referred to as neonatal stem cells and are less mature - and therefore more potent - than the stem cells found in the bone marrow of children or adults.9
A decade or so ago, these cord blood stem cells were typically discarded with the umbilical cord and placenta after birth.
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Now they are the basis for some of today’s lifesaving transplantation therapies to treat patients with diseases such as leukemia, myeloma or immune system disorders. Your baby's umbilical cord blood is a valuable
source of stem cells which are genetically unique to your baby and family.
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