Umbilical Cord Tissue Banking Benefits
As stem cell research continues, and the advancement of treatments being developed for more specific applications grow, scientists have found that your baby’s umbilical cord tissue is an exceptional source of valuable stem cells. Learn more about cord tissue basics.
These stem cells are different from cord blood stem cells, but equally important.
What is Cord Tissue, and how is it Different from Cord Blood?
Cord tissue refers to the actual umbilical cord and all the cells contained within. Cord Blood, is the blood that remains in the vein of the umbilical cord and placenta at the time of birth. This blood is rich in hematopoietic or blood derived stem cells. The cord tissue, or Wharton’s jelly is the tissue surrounding the umbilical vein and vessels in the cord. After removing these vessels, the tissue remaining contains stem cells which are termed mesenchymal stem cells.
Cord tissue stem cells, also known as Mesenchymal Stem Cells or MSCs, are showing great potential in the fields of regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and gene therapy. They can differentiate into a variety of cell types, including bone, cartilage, muscle, nerve and many others.
How are Mesenchymal Stem Cells Used?
Cord tissue stem cells represent the most advanced, cutting-edge discoveries in regenerative medicine today. With over 300 MSC clinical trials and numerous research studies in process, scientists predict an explosion of new therapies being universally adopted, including standard, routine treatments for diabetes, multiple sclerosis, stroke, heart failure, liver damage and many more.
The use of cord tissue stem cells has the enormous potential to make regenerative medicine a life-saving reality; something that conventional medicine and pharmaceutical therapy have not been able to do effectively.