Cord blood has been used for more than 30 years. Many people know it as an alternative or even superior choice for stem cell transplants to treat many forms of cancer including leukemia, lymphoma, etc. However, cord blood has also shown tremendous potential in the treatment of certain genetic diseases, such as Hurler Syndrome (MPS Type 1). 

On April 4, 2016, at seven months old, Lyla Rose Edgington was diagnosed at Phoenix Children’s Hospital with a rare, progressive genetic disorder, Hurler syndrome. Hurler Syndrome is a progressive genetic disease. If you don’t treat it, it will gradually cause severe physical and mental damage. Lyla’s parents knew this and this is why timing was so crucial in her case.

Her doctors said she needed a stem cell transplant and that cord blood would give her the best chances at overcoming this life-threatening genetic disorder.​ They were referred to Dr. Paul Orchard at the University of Minnesota who explained that transplants for MPS patients have greatly improved over the last several years. 

It was a race against the clock as the disease was constantly working against them, deteriorating brain cells. Luckily, a match was found and it was a perfect 6 out of 6 match! The transplant date was set for July 25th, 2016. Nearly seven years after receiving a successful cord blood stem cell transplant, Lyla and her parents want to spread awareness about the benefits of public cord blood donation.

Join us for this inspirational and educational LIVE session featuring Dr. Paul Orchard and Lyla's parents! Together, they will help us to discover the potential of this valuable medical resource and open our eyes to possible new applications to treat genetic diseases with cord blood. 

SHARE THE SCIENCE
with
Dr. Paul Orchard 
University of Minnesota Medical Director of the Inherited Metabolic
and Storage Disease Program and a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics,
Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy

and family of Lyla Edgington
Cord Blood Transplant Recipient for Hurler Syndrome
 
"Cord Blood for Hurler Syndrome (MPS Type 1)" 
Free webinar.  Open to the public.
​
Tuesday, December 19th 2pm US Eastern Time / 11am US Pacific Time

RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE

For almost 40 years, cord blood transplants have been used in the treatment of more than 80 different life-threatening diseases, most notably leukemia and lymphoma. In recent years, transplant doctors and researchers have pushed cord blood well beyond traditional transplant. In particular, there has been an interest in further refining the cord blood transplant process through various manipulations and combinations so as to better respond to a particular patient's needs and to ultimately expand access and improve outcomes. Dr. van Besien has been a leading figure in this research.

For this exclusive webinar, we have asked Dr. van Besien to tell us about the use of cord blood for his transplant patients and to discuss its advantages/disadvantages when compared to other stem cell sources. In addition, Dr. van Besien will discuss his research regarding the innovation of haplo-cord transplants and how this new process could help expand access and improve outcomes for certain high risk patients. In particular, he will discuss the use of cord blood in the treatment of HIV (namely the New York Patient) and in the mangement of hematological malignancies.

Important topics Dr. van Besien will cover include:

• The role of donor choice in transplant outcomes.
• The potential advantages of umbilical cord blood in disease control.
• The role umbilical cord blood can play in transplants for adults.
• Important research on HIV (New York Patient) and umbilical cord blood stem cell transplants.

SHARE THE SCIENCE
with
Dr. Koen van Besien
Blood and Marrow Transplant Division Chief,
Seidman Cancer Center at University Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio
 
"The Enduring Promise of Cord Blood" 
Free webinar.  Open to the public.
​
Wednesday, March 29th 2pm US Eastern Time / 11am US Pacific Time

RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE
via the Share the Science Archive