TORONTO — Umbilical cords continue to surprise researchers as an abundant source of stem cells. Last week’s Toronto Star reported that a group of scientists at the University of Toronto have discovered what they are calling the “jack-pot” of stem cells in a mass of jelly found inside the umbilical cord.
“We're very excited by this, that's for sure,” said J.E. Davies, of the University of Toronto's Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering.
The source, known as Wharton's Jelly, surrounds the three umbilical cord blood vessels connecting the fetus and mother. The Toronto researchers used umbilical cords donated from full-term pregnancies.
The team hopes that this will spur parents to save their children’s umbilical cords. Stem cells from umbilical cord blood have proven to be as versatile as stem cells derived from embryos. Davies said the stem cells could provide sources of treatment for diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma, which normally require bone marrow transplants.
The University of Toronto findings were to be published last week in the journal Stem Cells. “You can anticipate using these as a source of cells to help re-grow that bone…or connective tissue in the knee…which has been damaged in an accident,” said Davies.
Dr. Peter Hollands, a stem cell biologist from Cambridge University and the Scientific Director of Cells for Life, one of the few cord blood banks in Canada, has said that he cannot understand why scientists are pursuing embryonic stem cells that have so far failed to produce any cures.
Dr. Hollands told LifeSiteNews.com. “If we focused more on collecting umbilical cord blood from most births and storing the samples in a public bank there would then be a suitable match for almost everyone. The ‘designer babies’ would then not be needed as the cord blood banks could easily support the demand for cells for transplantation.”
See also:
Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell Expert Says Designer Babies Not Necessary for Treatments
Adult Bone Marrow Stem Cells Deliver Cancer Therapy Without Side Effects
Non-Embryonic Stem Cell Treatment Allows Paralyzed Brazilian to Walk, Talk Again
US Congressman and 18 Co-Sponsors Back Bill to Set Up National Cord Blood Bank
WASHINGTON — US Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), along with 18 co-sponsors, cord blood specialists, and recipients, urged passage of the Cord Blood Stem Cell Act of 2005 at a press conference last Tuesday.
The sponsors seek to create a national cord blood bank — a national infrastructure for cord-blood stem-cell collection and research that could, in time, save the lives of thousands of gravely ill Americans. The success of these adult stem cells trumps any need for recourse to morally objectionable embryonic stem cells.
Smith — a leader of health initiatives in Congress — said, “The Legislation will make available the miracle of stem cells derived from medical waste to thousands of patients who otherwise have no hope to recover from lethal diseases.”
The bill would establish an inventory of 150,000 cord-blood stem-cell units that reflect the diversity of the United States and enable at least 90% of Americans to receive an appropriately matched cord-blood stem-cell transplant. The inventory would provide a critical resource for those in need of transplants and allocate a certain proportion of units to sustain further research on cord-blood stem cells.
See also:
National Cord Blood Program Website
U of T Team Discovers Stem Cell Jackpot
(This update courtesy of LifeSiteNews.com.)
