ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 13 -- Orlando is now home to what will quickly become the largest umbilical cord blood collection program in the nation. A new partnership between CORD:USE Cord Blood Bank and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies will provide life-saving cord blood stem cells to people with blood diseases.
CORD:USE President and CEO, Dr. Edward Guindi said, "The CORD:USE Cord Blood Bank Collection Program at Winnie Palmer Hospital will be the largest of its kind in the nation, and will help to increase the inventory of available cord blood units, particularly units from underrepresented minority groups, for all those in need of a potentially life saving stem cell transplant."
The program will enhance Central Florida's rapidly growing reputation as a global center for new medical technologies and will be based at the third busiest birthing center in the country. "We are excited about being part of the CORD:USE Cord Blood Bank donation program and the opportunity to help save lives across the nation through the national registry," said Kathy Swanson, President, Winnie Palmer Hospital.
Cord blood is the stem cell rich blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta following birth. Stem cells are collected from the umbilical cord blood that would otherwise be discarded, so there are no ethical or moral dilemmas involved.
Florida U.S. Senator Mel Martinez states, "I supported the passage of The Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005 at the end of last year which aims to increase the national inventory of available cord blood units, and I am glad to see steps taken like the beginning of this program by CORD:USE Cord Blood Bank and Winnie Palmer Hospital."
Umbilical cord blood can save the lives of critically ill patients, treating over 65 different diseases including leukemia, lymphoma and sickle cell anemia. Umbilical cord blood stem cell transplants have already been performed in over 8,000 patients, saving thousands of patients who would have otherwise not had a chance of survival.
Dr. Jeffrey Chell, the CEO of the National Marrow Donor Program, states, "The use of cord blood has increased dramatically in the past few years in absolute numbers and in the increased percentage of adults being helped with cord blood. Whereas, four years ago, only 1% of the transplants facilitated by the NMDP were cord blood, today more than 20% of the transplants are cord blood. In the next few years, I envision the percentage moving to 50%. Also, in the past month, 1/3 of the transplants using cord blood were for adult patients."
Posted this morning by MrLong on CBAI board. Thanks... ;)
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