Share the Science: Driving Cord Blood Utilization through R&D - Marcie Finney

Save the Cord Foundation and WellSky are proud to welcome Marcie Finney, Executive Director of the Cleveland Cord Blood Center, as our featured speaker for our next edition of Share the Science on September 5th, 2019. 

​Share the Science is a free webinar series focused on the cord blood industry and the latest research in this field.  As always, we invite both health professionals and the general public to join us for this unique online educational series. Learn more about this exciting educational series here.

RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE

Register for recording Share the Science: Driving Cord Blood Utilization

Cell Therapy Incubator: Key to Increasing Utilization

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. 

Did you know?

Sadly, not every cord blood donation meets the rigid criteria to go on the public registry. Likewise, private cord blood banks also have collection criteria. If the unit does not meet these criteria, it can be rejected. The most common reason for rejection is sample size (not enough cord blood collected).  

Let's not throw these cord  blood units away. . . 
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Rather than waste these cord blood units, they could be used for vital research to potentially treat Type 1 diabetes, Parkinson's Disease, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, autism, hearing loss, and much more. 

Luckily, the infrastructure for both public and private cord blood banking has evolved tremendously over the past three decades, both in the US and internationally. However, cord blood research and development remains tricky because authorities such as the FDA and others have been slow to update regulations for cell therapy research. It is improving but for many the procedures and criteria can be overwhelming, costly and far too time consuming. 

"In order for the industry to fully exploit cord blood's potential and maximize utilization of this vital resource, we must take more of a community approach and leverage existing infrastructure and expertise." 
~ Charis Ober, Save the Cord Foundation

Only a handful of groups have been successful at advancing cord blood based cell therapies through the arduous process of clinical trials and ultimate approval for use.  Why not learn from these groups? Could we advance cord blood research and ultimately increase utilization through like-minded collaborations? Could a Cell Therapy Incubator be the answer? 

With her extensive background in cord blood research and practical approach to business, Marcie Finney of the Cleveland Cord Blood Center is poised to lead this new approach to cord blood R&D. Join us for her presentation, "Driving Cord Blood Utilization through R&D," as she explores the potential of the cell therapy incubators. 

SHARE THE SCIENCE
with
Marcie Finney

Executive Director of the
Cleveland Cord Blood Center

"Driving Cord Blood Utilization through R&D"

Free webinar.  Open to the public.
​
Thursday, September 5th, 2019 - 12pm Central Daylight Time

RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE: CLICK HERE

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About the speaker

Marcie Finney is the Executive Director of the Cleveland Cord Blood Center (CCBC). The CCBC is an independent, public cord blood bank. It was founded in 2008. The CCBC collects, processes, stores and distributes stem-cell rich umbilical cord blood for transplantation in patients with life threatening disorders such as leukemia, lymphoma and immune system disorders. In addition, CCBC researchers are exploring the use of cord blood-derived cells as regenerative cell therapies to address unmet medical needs.

As Executive Director of the Cleveland Cord Blood Center, Marcie Finney's responsibilities include strategic planning, finance, administration and quality product development, and she is active in the cellular therapy industry. She has spent over 10 years at Case Western Reserve University where she participated in cord blood research. Prior to her current role, she served as the organization’s Director of Hospital Relations where she headed the education and training of collection coordinators and medical staff at hospital collection sites. She received a Master of Science in Chemistry and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Slippery Rock University. 

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​We wish to thank Marcie Finney for volunteering her time to speak on
Share the Science and sharing her valuable insight on
​cord blood as a valuable source of stem cells 
in the treatment of over 80 life-threatening diseases 
as well as its tremendous potential in emerging cell therapies.

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We also wish to also thank our generous sponsor and partner for this event,
WellSky Health, who continue to support cord blood
education through our “Share the Science” series.