Share the Science: Dr. Suzanne Pontow - Diversity in California Cord Blood Donations

Save the Cord Foundation and WellSky are proud to welcome Dr. Suzanne Pontow as our featured speakers for our next edition of Share the Science on Wednesday, July 13th, 2022 at 3pm EDT / 2pm CDT. Join us to hear Dr. Pontow discuss the importance of diversity in the California Public Cord Blood Inventory.

RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE (via the Share the Science Archive)

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.

Why is diversity important in cord blood?

Cord blood is often lauded for the fact that it is easier to match than bone marrow when used as a source of stem cells for cancer patients in need of a transplant. However, it still requires HLA matching which means that it is important to collect cord blood donations from families of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Given this priority, combined with the fact that public donation programs are few and far between, it is vitally important that public cord blood donation programs first be focused on areas with a diverse population. The California Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program has recognized this need and built their program accordingly.  

​Join us to hear Dr. Suzanne Pontow, Director of the California Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program, go into detail about cord blood collection amongst diverse ethnic populations. This state-funded cord blood collection program has selected high-birthrate hospitals in five metropolitan areas. This has allowed the state of California to develop a public cord blood inventory with increased racial/ethnic diversity compared with the national inventory. In her presentation, Dr. Pontow will describe the program's racial and Hispanic ethnicity demographic and usage characteristics of cord blood units (CBUs) preserved under this legislative program and retrieved for transplantation.

SHARE THE SCIENCE
with

Suzanne Pontow, PhD
Co-Director, Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program for University of California Davis Health System
 
"Transplant Activity Reflects the
Diversity of the California Public Cord Blood Inventory" 
Free webinar.  Open to the public.
​
Wednesday, July 13th, 2022  3pm EDT / 2pm CDT

RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE
via the Share the Science Archive

Watch the Recording - Suzanne Pontow, PhD - Diversity in Cord Blood Donations

About the speaker

Suzanne Pontow, PhD

Co-Director, Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program for University of California Davis Health System

​Suzanne Pontow, PhD, is the co-director for the Umbilical Cord Blood Collection program at UC Davis Health System in Sacramento. Dr. Pontow received her BS in General Sciences from University of Iowa, and her PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology from Washington University School of Medicine. After 11 years studying how HIV infects cells, Dr. Pontow joined the laboratory of Jan Nolta, PhD, Director of the Institute for Regenerative Cures. The move to UC Davis allowed Dr. Pontow to pursue an interest in the remarkable stem cells that are routinely discarded with the placenta and umbilical cord following birth.

In 2010, Dr. Pontow and Jon Walker, CLS were named Co-directors of the Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program for the state of California, which is administered from the UC Davis Health System.

​When she is not working, Dr. Pontow lives with her three teenage sons and three dogs, and spends time biking and hiking along the American River.

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We wish to thank Dr. Suzanne Pontow for volunteering her time to speak on
Share the Science and sharing her valuable insight
on the importance of diversity in the California Umbilical Cord Blood Program inventory.
​​
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.