<![CDATA[Cord Blood Education for Parents, Health Professionals and Students - Save the Cord Foundation - PROJECTS and EVENTS]]>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:23:18 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Cord Blood to Treat Krabbe Disease - Learn How at the 2026 Arizona Cord Blood Conference]]>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 18:20:10 GMThttps://www.savethecordfoundation.org/projects-and-events/cord-blood-can-treat-krabbe-disease-learn-how-at-the-2026-arizona-cord-blood-conference
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How is cord blood used to treat Krabbe Disease? What is the role of newborn screening? Can we also use cord blood to treat cancer? Get the answers you need from leading transplant doctors and industry experts. Join us on April 16th for the 11th Anniversary of the Arizona Cord Blood Conference (attend in-person or virtually). 
Cord blood has helped to bridge the gap between stem cell donors and patients for well over 35 years. Today, the medical community recognizes cord blood for its unique qualities: easier to match than bone marrow, available off-the-shelf in just days, collected easily. The advantages are numerous.

This year’s conference will place an emphasis on cord blood's unique advantages in fighting Krabbe Disease and cancer, as well as innovative research in regenerative medicine to potentially treat cerebral palsy, sickle cell disease and more. The conference will also reinforce the growing network supporting the Arizona Public Cord Blood Program, a free cord blood donation program available to Arizona families and made possible by the Arizona Biomedical Research Centre (ABRC) at the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Click here To register FREE (Attend in-person or virtually)
Speakers will include:
  • Joanne Kurtzberg, MD (Duke University / Carolinas Cord Blood Bank)
  • Filippo Milano, MD, PhD (Fred Hutch Cancer Center)
  • Paul Orchard, MD (University of Minnesota)
  • Arthur Evensen, DPM, CWSP (Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare)
  • Erin Eaton, (MD Anderson Cord Blood Bank)
  • Sarah Mahan (Fred Hutch Cancer Center)
  • Katherine Fullerton (Arizona Department of Health Services)
  • Kristina Audet and her son, Zion (Cord Blood Transplant Recipient for Krabbe Disease)
  • Joan Snelz, MSN-Ed. RN, RNC-OB, ACUE (Northern Arizona University)
  • Shandre Niameogo, BSN, MSN, MPH (Save the Cord Foundation)
  • Melanie Hall (Save the Cord Foundation)
  • Charis Ober (Save the Cord Foundation)
Register here:  https://tinyurl.com/AZCordBloodConference2026 
Hybrid event (attend online or in-person), free and open to the public.
]]><![CDATA[World Cancer Day 2026:  Let's beat cancer through education!]]>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:03:29 GMThttps://www.savethecordfoundation.org/projects-and-events/world-cancer-day-2026-lets-beat-cancer-through-education
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Bring Cord Blood Education to Your Community!

February 4th is World Cancer Day 2026!

Save the Cord Foundation is proud to celebrate World Cancer Day each year through various initiatives to expand cord blood education via patient stories and innovative outreach:

Patient Story featuring Steve Buechler:  
To better understand why cord blood is so critical in the fight against cancer, we always recommend meeting someone who has had a cord blood transplant. We invite you to meet Steve Buechler who beat cancer thanks to cord blood! Read Steve's story here.

Innovative Outreach: 
Bring cord blood education to your classroom and community. Register for free access to Cord Blood in the Classroom. Cord Blood in the Classroom (free, open to all) launched in November 2024 as an integral part of our sister website, Next Generation - Cord Blood, which provides key educational tools for teachers leading secondary and university classrooms. This unique program allows students to learn the basics of cord blood collection and transplantation for cancer patients and more. 
Learn about World Cancer Day
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Patient Story

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Cord blood stem cells have been used since 1988 to treat patients in need of a stem cell transplant.

The most common use of cord blood is for fighting cancer.

Steve is one of more than 60,000 patients to date who have received a cord blood transplant. 

​Meet Steve and discover his story . . .
How did it start?

"I had no symptoms and no clue that I had cancer. I simply went to my annual physical exam where my doctor ordered a routine complete blood count. It revealed that my white blood cell count was dangerously low. He referred me to a hematologist who did a bone marrow biopsy that found acute myeloid leukemia with 50% blasts in my bloodstream. If not for that annual physical exam, I would have become a lot sicker before I was diagnosed and treated. Then came multiple hospital stays for induction chemotherapy, consolidation chemotherapy, and a double umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant. My treatment was successful and I remain cancer almost ten years later. This was the best possible outcome for which I am profoundly grateful."  Read the rest of Steve's story here.
*By clicking the link above, you will be
​directed to the official website for World Cancer Day ( www.WorldCancerDay.org ).

Innovative Outreach

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How can education fight cancer? Answer: Cord Blood is Unique!

Simply put, we need a global effort to improve cancer treatments. Cord blood has UNIQUE properties. It has the potential to be a smarter, easier and healthier treatment for cancer patients around the globe. However, we are facing an uphill battle. . . too few people know about cord blood stem cells. A lack of awareness has led to a lack of funding and limited usage. We are trying to change that one school at a time, one young person at a time. 

How can you help? Answer: Bring this program to your classroom, your community!

We invite you to bring Cord Blood in the Classroom to your school or community as part of the February 4th, World Cancer Day, celebrations. No prior knowledge is necessary. It is easy to use -- click & play. 
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  • Ideal for secondary / university students
  • No prior knowledge necessary
  • Easy click & play lesson
  • Interactive games including an online Escape Room​
*By clicking the link above, you will be directed to Cord Blood in the Classroom, hosted on our website www.NextGenerationCordBlood.org Cord Blood in the Classroom is a FREE program. Registration is required for full access.
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#UniqueByUnique  #WorldCancerDay  #SaveTheCord
]]><![CDATA[Why is public cord blood banking important? Get answers in Scottsdale, Arizona!]]>Wed, 12 Mar 2025 14:17:55 GMThttps://www.savethecordfoundation.org/projects-and-events/why-is-public-cord-blood-banking-important-get-answers-in-scottsdale-arizona
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What is public cord blood donation? Why is it important in the fight against cancer? Does private cord blood banking fill the same gap in healthcare? Get the answers you need from leading transplant doctors and industry experts. Join us on April 17th for the 10th Anniversary of the Arizona Cord Blood Conference (attend in-person or online). 

Cord blood has been in the news recently and this has raised numerous questions for healthcare professionals and expectant parents alike. Luckily, the upcoming Arizona Cord Blood Conference will be the perfect opportunity to speak with those who work in cellular therapies everyday, using cord blood and cord tissue​, and get answers to your many questions. You don't need a medical degree to attend. In fact, we encourage members of the general public to attend. This is a rare opportunity to join the conversation on innovations in medical science and gain a solid understanding of why cord blood banking is important. This conference may also help to answer some questions you may have regarding private/family cord blood banking. The truth is that the industry and the science is evolving. Now, is the perfect time to educate yourself so that you can make the best decisions for you, your family and/or your patients. 
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John Garcia, Director of the Arizona Public Cord Blood Program, sponsor of the conference, said, “This year marks 10 years since we began holding this annual conference to raise awareness about the life saving attributes of stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood that is generally discarded after the birth of a newborn child. These stem cells are collected, with a mother’s permission, for use in research and in treatment of over 80 diseases.”

Explore the Past, Present and Future of Cord Blood Stem Cells in Cancer Treatment and More

Cord blood has helped to bridge the gap between stem cell donors and patients for well over 35 years. Today, the medical community recognizes cord blood for its unique qualities: easier to match than bone marrow, available off-the-shelf in just days, collected easily. The advantages are numerous.

​This year’s conference will place an emphasis on these unique advantages in fighting cancer as well as innovative research in regenerative medicine to potentially treat cerebral palsy, sickle cell disease and more. The conference will also reinforce the growing network supporting the Arizona Public Cord Blood Program, a free cord blood donation program available to Arizona families and made possible by the Arizona Biomedical Research Centre (ABRC) at the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Victor Waddell, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the ABRC and Chief of the Arizona State Laboratory within the Arizona Department of Health Services. When asked about the conference, he said, “I can’t believe this will be the 10th Arizona Cord Blood Conference, time goes by so fast. I am amazed at how the Cord Blood Program has continued to change over the past decade, evolving in many ways and adding even more partners both here in the US and across the world. I look forward to seeing everyone on April 17th in person and virtually for what is sure to be yet another absolutely fantastic conference.”

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Speakers will include:
  • Jennifer Cunico, (Director of Arizona Department of Health Services)
  • Joanne Kurtzberg, MD (Duke University / Carolinas Cord Blood Bank)
  • Eseosa Evbuomwan (Sickle Cell Survivor/ Cord Blood Transplant Recipient)
  • Colleen S. Delaney, MD, MSc (Fred Hutch / Seattle Children’s Hospital)
  • David Allan, MD (University of Ottawa – Canadian Blood Services)
  • Warren Fingrut, MD (MD Anderson Cancer Center)
  • Roger Horton, PhD (Anthony Nolan UK)
  • Christina Celluzzi, PhD, MS, CABP(H) (AABB)
  • Suzanne Pontow, PhD (University of California – Davis)
  • Erin Eaton, (MD Anderson Cord Blood Bank)
  • Joan Snelz, MSN-Ed, RNC-OB, BSN (Northern Arizona University)
  • Melanie Hall (Save the Cord Foundation)
  • Charis Ober (Save the Cord Foundation)

Register here:  tinyurl.com/azcbc2025
Hybrid event (attend online or in-person), free and open to the public.


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