Why Store Stem Cells ?

What are Stem Cells ?
  		• Stem-cells are the “magical” young, generic cells in the human body that can be grown into other specific cells. Stem cells can be used for treatment of some blood disorders and cancers.
  		• Stem-cells unfortunately are rare and difficult to harvest from the adult body, but they are found abundantly in the baby's umbilical cord and placenta.
  		• With the current medical technology and technique, there is already an extensive list of various diseases that are currently treatable by stem cells treatment.
  		• Stem cell research is making important progress and the future of stem-cell applications may possibly include organ regeneration and other cancer treatments.

    Why store Stem Cells ?
    By choosing to store your baby's cord blood stem cells, you are giving an additional chance for your baby to potentially use them as a part of a treatment therapy for various diseases, including various cancers, genetic diseases, blood disorders and immune system deficiencies.
    In developed countries, hundreds of thousands of parents decide to store their babies' cord blood stem cells. CSI is bringing this affordable service to you at a fraction of the cost of services in developed countries.

    Why Store Cord Blood?

  		• Potential use as treatment option for more than 70 diseases to save your baby’s life
  		• Potential to save another family member’s life.
    Siblings and parents have a relatively higher chance of matching DNA to use the stem cells, compared to unrelated donor
  		• A once-in-a-lifetime chance to harvest stem cells immediately after birth.
    Cord blood stem cells are preferred over adult stem cells for treatment
  		• The collection process of cord blood is simple, painless and harmless to the newborn baby and mother.
  		• Up to 70% of people who need bone marrow transplants cannot find a compatible donor.
    - Bone marrow transplant is essentially stem cell transplant. Banking your baby’s stem cells improves the odds of having a proper match for your baby or another family member.
  		• Finding a proper match is especially problematic for people of mixed ethnicity & ethnic minorities.
  		• In the near future, medical advances may allow stem cells to be used in regenerative medicine (growing organs etc)
    Early successes are already demonstrated by leading scientists internationally, some of whom CSI is proud to be associated with through its International Advisory Panel. Read more about stem cell news in our news section.
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    Public vs Private Cord Blood Banking
    In many countries, there are government-funded public cord blood banks. Public cord blood banks depend on parents to donate their newborn baby’s cord blood stem cells into a public bio-archive that will be available for any needy patient for use as treatment option.
    Public stem cell banks are excellent initiatives that benefit the community and they also validate the merit of storing cord blood stem cells since they are mainly government-funded.
    However, there are limitations to public stem cell banks. Below are some objective comparisons:
    Public Cord Blood Bank
    Private Cord Blood Bank
    1. Free of charge, and depend on voluntary donors for cord blood stem cells 1. Charges an upfront fee and annual fee
    2. Once donated, the cord blood units are put into a public pool. There is no guarantee that the donated stem cells will be available to the same donor at later stage if the donor needs it. 2. Samples are exclusively maintained for client use only.
    3. Like a human cell, stem cell is built upon a complex DNA sequence that is mapped genetically at birth. One person’s DNA sequence is quite different from another (especially so if they do not come from the same family). An incompatible stem cell transplant can cause the “Graft Vs Host” disease.
    A DNA-sequencing procedure called HLA Typing needs to be done in order to build up the database of genetic information to enable matching of donated stem cells to needy patients.
    Unfortunately, HLA Typing is an expensive procedure that many public cord blood banks cannot afford to perform for every sample of cord blood collect.
    3. Privately stored stem cells are perfect match to the donor (i.e. your newborn baby).
    In addition, there is a more than 25% chance that the stem cells are compatible with your newborn’s siblings. Hence you could potentially use them for treatment of family members.
    Since the stem cells are privately stored exclusively for your child or family, HLA Typing is only necessary when the stem cells are to be used by a recipient other than the originating child himself/herself.
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    The Future of Stem Cells
    Researchers are now looking to stem cells as a potential treatment option for some forms of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
    Stem cell research is progressing rapidly and has shown that stem cells can be developed into lung, liver, muscle, nerve, pancreas and cartilage cells.
    Growing of organs from stem cells may be possible in the near future and hence stem cell technology offers endless possibilities in healthcare.
    For latest news on stem cells research, read our frequently-updated news section.
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