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Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell Treatments a Success

DURHAM, NC, February 17, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Scientists at Duke University have proven for the first time that stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood can successfully treat children with rare genetic diseases that affect the brain, liver, and heart.

Many scientists have shown that stem cells derived in this way can transform into cells of other types in the lab, but this is the first instance of it being utilized in people.

The Duke researchers found that the stem cells entered damaged heart tissue, and transformed themselves into healthy heart cells.

Scientists are realizing more and more the potential that cord blood-derived stem cells have to offer.

In an interview last year with Dr. Peter Hollands, Scientific Director of Cells for Life, a private cord blood bank in Markham Ontario, LifeSiteNews.com asked him to comment on the widely held belief that embryonic stem cells might work better than umbilical stem cells, such as those from cord blood. Dr. Hollands said "Why may they work better? We do not even know if they (embryonic stem cells) will work at all! The public must know that adult and umbilical cord blood stem cells are available, proven and ready to use for a range of diseases. We must get away from this idea of the promise of embryonic stem cells and look at the realities of adult and umbilical cord blood stem cells. Embryonic stem cells have yet to be used to treat any form of disease."

Dr. Hollands also disagreed with those who contend there is a great need to continue study of embryonic stem cells. "We should focus our attention on the most readily available and usable type of cells and these are adult and umbilical cord stem cells. Embryonic stem cells at present are largely political rhetoric and scientific hype. Adult and umbilical cord blood stem cells are proven and ready to use. The public needs to know this," he said.

Read the related LifeSiteNews.com report: "Canadian Stem Cell Expert Speaks Out on Adult vs. Embryo Stem Cell Research," at: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/nov/03112001.html

See related media coverage of the success at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3495605.stm

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