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.”

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.

The 10th Annual Arizona Cord Blood Conference is eagerly anticipated on Thursday, April 17, 2025, and will span from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (MST - AZ). We firmly believe that through fostering education and promoting awareness about the unique characteristics of the cord blood donation program and its potential to save lives, we can raise donation rates from diverse populations.

Free Event - Attend In-Person (places limited) or Online - Hybrid Event

Featured speakers to include (full agenda coming soon):

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

Learn more about the conference here.

About the Arizona Public Cord Blood Program

The Arizona Public Cord Blood Program is a publicly funded initiative dedicated to the collection of cord blood for transplant purposes and the advancement of new treatments and cures. To disseminate knowledge about umbilical cord blood collection, current applications, and cutting-edge research, our program partners organize and host an annual scientific conference.

If you seek more information, we encourage you to explore our website and delve deeper into the world of the Arizona Public Cord Blood Program. For any further inquiries, please contact us at [email protected] .

This February 4th is World Cancer Day 2025! 

World Cancer Day is a reminder to come together to take action against cancer. At the same time, we must remember that behind every cancer diagnosis is a unique human story—stories of resilience, grief, hope, and healing. People-centred care means seeing the whole person and meeting their unique needs with compassion and empathy. 

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. This year we will continue the tradition by encouraging schools around the globe to take advantage of our new flagship program: 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 a 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. 

Why is this educational program important and necessary?

Simply put because we need a global effort to improve cancer treatments. Cord blood has the potential to be a smarter, easier and healthier treatment for 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 learn more about this innovative program for high schools and universitites? 

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.