Cord Blood Monocytes: What does the future hold? 

Cord blood monocytes differ from monocytes in adult blood and appear to be uniquely suited for use as source material from which to derive new therapeutics for treatment of brain disorders. DUOC-01, a cellular therapy that promotes myelination, is undergoing testing to augment umbilical cord blood transplants in children with leukodystrophies. We are studying whether infusions of cord blood cells could have efficacy in acquired brain injuries. Clinical studies to date have demonstrated safety and efficacy of intravenous infusions of autologous and sibling cord blood in hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, cerebral palsy, congenital hydrocephalus and autism, and acute ischemic stroke. Further development of these therapies using allogeneic cord blood products can expand access to these therapies for all patients in need. While you're there, be sure to ask our product experts how we can create better outcomes for you.

On October 21st, we invite you to join us for a special session at the AABB 2019 Annual Meeting where we will host Dr. Kurtzberg for a live Share the Science event. At this event, she will speak about her current research and present the latest results from that work. Attendees will also have an opportunity to participate in a live question/answer session with Dr. Kurtzberg. 

About the speaker

Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg is the Director, Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at Duke University School of Medicine, Director of the Marcus Center for Cellular Cures, Director of the Carolinas Cord Blood Bank, Co-Director of Stem Cell Laboratory and the President of Cord Blood Association. 

Dr. Kurtzberg is an internationally renowned expert in pediatric hematology/oncology, pediatric blood and marrow transplant, umbilical cord blood banking and transplant, and novel applications of cord blood in the emerging fields of cellular therapies and regenerative medicine. Over the last two decades, Dr. Kurtzberg has established an internationally known pediatric transplant program; one of the largest unrelated donor cord blood banks, the Carolinas Cord Blood Bank, in the world; and the Marcus Center for Cellular Cures (MC3) at Duke.

Dr. Kurtzberg has published more than 300 peer-reviewed papers, multiple chapters, and scientific reviews. She is a member of the American Society of Hematology, the American Association of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, the International Society of Cellular Therapies, the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium (PBMTC), and other organizations. She has served on the Board of the Foundation of Accreditation of Cellular Therapies, Advisory Council of Blood Stem Cell Transplantation to Health and Human Services. Dr. Kurtzberg was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the PBMTC in 2012. 

What do these three things have in common? 

• Chronic wounds: Over 6.5 million cases in the US
• Type 1 Diabetes:  Over 1.25 million cases in the US
• Parkinson's Disease:  Over 1 million cases in the US

Answer:  Research. Scientists are currently researching the potential use of cord blood to treat chronic wounds, Type 1 diabetes and Parkinson's Disease.  

Cord blood has many uses. In fact, it is currently used on a routine basis to treat over 80 different life-threatening diseases including leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia and thalassemia.  However, cord blood holds great potential in treating so much more!  Cord blood experts agree that we have only just begun to understand the full potential of cord blood stem cells in the field of cell therapies and, in particular, regenerative medicine. 

Donated stem cells (also known as allogeneic stem cells) are often the only hope for treating a cancer patient. Typically, when a patient learns that a stem cell transplant is necessary they immediately assume that the stem cells will come from a bone marrow donor. Finding a donor requires the patient to work with a transplant center who will begin a search to find a matching donor via a public registry such as BeTheMatch and/or WMDA.  The donor could come from any corner of the world.  The donor must be contacted and asked if they still agree to donate bone marrow. Meanwhile, the cancer patient is waiting, hoping and preparing themselves for the eventual procedure. 

Let's assume that the transplant center does find a bone marrow donor match. What happens next? Well, it is still a long and complicated process. Remember, the donor could be anyone, anywhere in the world. Are they still available? Are they healthy enough to donate? Are they prepared to make this type of commitment still? How quickly can they get to the required facility to actually donate? 

Is there a better solution? 

Now, let's assume that the transplant center finds a match via cord blood. What happens next? 

Simple. They order it.

Once a cord blood match is identified (often via the same public registries used for bone marrow), the transplant center simply orders the cord blood unit.  Collected at birth and frozen until needed, the donated cord blood unit can be made available immediately. It will be delivered directly to the transplant center where is it prepared by the team for infusion. It is administered to the patient much like a classic blood infusion. 

By choosing cord blood as the source of stem cells for this patient, the transplant center has not only saved time but they have avoided complicated logistics. They have also opened the door to new opportunities for stem cell transplantation.

What other advantages or disadvantages are there to choosing cord blood as a source of stem cells?  

Let's ask an expert in stem cell transplants. . .
​
For our next edition of Share the Science, we are proud to welcome Dr. Karen Ballen, Professor of Medicine and Section Chief of Hematology, Hematologic Malignancy, and Stem Cell Transplant at the University of Virginia. Dr. Ballen will discuss the challenges and opportunities alternative donor stem cell transplantation provides. She will review the indications and side effects of allogeneic transplant and discuss the selection of the optimal donor for each patient, including matched related and unrelated donors, and haploidentical donors and umbilical cord blood donors. She will also review recent data on umbilical cord blood transplant and minimal residual disease, as well as current large studies comparing donor sources. 

In this webinar, attendees will learn: 

• Indication for cord blood transplantation
• Donor options available for patients with blood cancers
• Patient outcomes after cord blood transplant
• The differences between public and private banking and how to find the best donor
• The importance of diverse cord blood unit availability
• The effect of cord blood licensure