Cord Blood Banking

Role of HLA in umbilical cord blood transplantation: HLA priorities in cord blood unit selection (WMDA/EBMT)
Description: Part of the WMDA/EMBT Search Coordinator Certificate Programme advanced level, a lecture given by Cladd Stevens, MD about the role of HLA in cord blood transplantation.

WMDA-NetCord Webinar: Cord Blood Outcome Data: How to get it and how to use it (WMDA-NetCord), December 13, 2017
Description: This webinar will be on December 13, 2017, at 10:00 ET. It is often difficult for cord blood banks to get outcome data. Gesine Koegler, PhD, of the José Carreras Cord Blood Bank in Düsseldorf, will discuss how to get and how to use cord blood outcome data. What have banks done that work well? And, once the information is received, how can it be used?

WMDA-NetCord Webinar: Manual and Automated Methods for Thawing of Cord Blood (WMDA-NetCord), November 29, 2017
Description: This WMDA-NetCord webinar will be on November 29, 2017, at 11:00 ET. Cellular therapy departments have to thaw cord blood units that were frozen, using very different processes from each other’s SOP's. These SOP's are sent by the CBB and are not always adapted to the disposals and reagents used by the department who then thaw the CBU. Diane Fournier, PhD, of Héma-Québec, and Roger Horton, PhD, of The Anthony Nolan Cord Blood Bank, will discuss manual and automatic thawing methods used by different departments for thawing of these units, and what can be done to improve the cells recovery. Also, a multi-center study for harmonization of post thaw analysis of CD34 and CD45 cells will be presented.

Meeting of the WMDA/NetCord Cord Blood Working Group (WMDA), November 8-9, 2017 
Description: Working and educational session on cord blood operations and cord blood bank management at the WMDA Fall Meeting (November 8-9, 2017) in Minneapolis

WMDA-NetCord Webinar: Eligibility Assessment (WMDA-NetCord), October 4, 2017
Description: This WMDA-NetCord webinar will be on October 4, 2017, at 10:00 ET. This is an area that differs among banks, and banks rely on integration between central bank activities and collection sites. Some information is collected upfront and some is collected onsite. Susana Gomez, PhD, Head of Blood and Cell Processing Laboratory at Programa Concordia Banc de Sang i Teixits, will provide tips for how to do this effectively.

Microbiology Lab in Cell Therapy Facility: Operational Aspects and Merits On-Demand eCast (AABB Center for Cellular Therapies), May 11, 2017-May 11, 2019 
Description: Microbial studies and testing in cell therapy processing and/or banking facilities require different settings than clinical labs where specific activities expected to be performed such as validation studies of sterility test method for intended use, environmental microbial monitoring, disinfectants effectiveness studies, media fills to assure aseptic competency, etc. The focus of this program will be to present operational options for cell therapy processing/banking facilities to cover relevant microbial activities taking into consideration two operational models: onsite lab model and outside service model. Selection of appropriate model is governed by nature and size of work and availability of resources. Speakers will identify advantages and challenges related to each model and share their own experiences.

Perinatal Cells and the Landscape of Ancillary Cord Blood Banking Services On-Demand eCast (AABB Center for Cellular Therapies), May 12, 2016-May 12, 2018 
Description: Stem cells from perinatal tissues contain untapped life potential to treat many disorders. Sources of perinatal stem cells include umbilical cord blood, the Wharton’s Jelly of the umbilical cord, amniotic fluid, the amnion lining the amniotic cavity, the placenta itself- including chorionic mesenchymal stromal cells and multi-potent cells derived from the human term placenta and the endothelial progenitor cells collected from the umbilical cord vein. Knowledge of this source of stem cells will lead to better understanding of cells that may improve clinical outcomes. This program discussed the Landscape of Ancillary Cord Blood Banking Services with the primary focus on cord tissue derived product offerings. Representatives of the two largest cord blood banks in the United States, Viacord and Cord Blood Registry, shared information about the products that these much respected cord blood banks offer. The Chief Scientific Officer from Auxocell Laboratories, Inc. shared information about a new cord tissue processing that is available on the market and being adopted by many cord blood banks both internationally and domestically.

Cord Blood Processing Proficiency Testing (CAP)
Description: Cord Blood Banks seeking proficiency testing for laboratory assays can enroll in the CAP Cord Blood Processing Survey (Code CBT). Procedures such as Absolute CD34, Bacterial Culture, Colony Forming Units (CFU), and Viability are included among others. 

Share the Science with Dr. Omar Aljitawi: Promising Strategies to Improve Umbilical Cord Blood Transplants (Save the Cord Foundation), July 19, 2017 
Description: As an associate professor of hematology/oncology for the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York, Dr. Aljitawi will discuss discuss the status of the field of umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplant, including advantages, current indications, and major challenges. In particular, Dr. Aljitawi will discuss the newly discovered role of erythropoietin in cord blood stem cell function during transplant and the use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) as a modality to lower systemic EPO with the aim of improving UCB CD34+ cell homing and engraftment.

Share the Science with Dr. Tim Nelson: Strengthening the HLHS Heart Using Umbilical Cord Blood (Save the Cord Foundation), May 17, 2017 
Description: At the MAYO Clinic, Dr. Timothy Nelson, M.D., Ph.D. leads an innovative team of physicians and scientists with one goal in mind. . . find a cure for HLHS. In this webinar, Dr. Nelson discusses how his team is pursuing an innovative clinical trial using stem cells from cord blood to strengthen a baby’s heart following a HLHS diagnosis. The umbilical cord blood cells are processed in a specific manner to create highly concentrated stem cells that are injected into the heart at the time of the baby’s second open heart surgery.

Share the Science with Dr. Moshe Israeli: Stem Cell Donor Search in the Global Village: What Lies Ahead? (Save the Cord Foundation), March 14, 2017
Description: Dr. Moshe Israeli is the director of the tissue typing laboratory of the Beilinson Hospital, Rabin Medical Center in Israel. In addition, he is the quality manager of the Bedomayich-Chayi public cord blood bank in Jerusalem. In this webinar, he explains the challenges of finding a suitable matched donor and the new promise of using cord blood for transplants. He also explores the growing complexity of global searches and the impact genetics is playing in creating new challenges.

Share the Science with Dr. Charles S. Cox, Jr. : Cellular Therapies for Neurologic Injuries (Save the Cord Foundation), January 23, 2017
Description: Dr. Charles Cox Jr., is the George and Cynthia Mitchell Distinguished Chair in Neurosciences and directs the Pediatric Surgical Translational Laboratories and Pediatric Program in Regenerative Medicine at the UTHealth Medical School. He also directs the Pediatric Trauma Program at the UTHealth Medical School/Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital. He will discuss in detail various stem and progenitor cellular therapies for neurological injuries.

Share the Science with Dr. Phyllis I. Warkentin: A First Look at the NetCord-FACT 6th Edition Cord Blood Standards (Save the Cord Foundation), March 22, 2016;
Description: Dr. Phyllis I. Warkentin, Chief Medical Officer of the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT), discusses the 6th edition NetCord-FACT Standards that will be published in July 2016.

Share the Science with Dr. Heidi Elmoazzen: Maximizing Opportunities for Transplant: Strategies to Improve the Quality of Cord Blood Inventory (Save the Cord Foundation), March 10, 2016;
Description: Dr. Heidi Elmoazzen, director of the Cord Blood Bank and Stem Cell Manufacturing of Canadian Blood Services, discuss strategies to improve the quality of inventory in cord blood banks and strategies to increase the utilization of banked cord blood units.

Share the Science with Dr. Bernard Thébaud: Recycling Matters – Cord-Derived Stem Cell Treatment of Neonatal Diseases (Save the Cord Foundation), April 28, 2016
Description: Dr. Bernard Thébaud, neonatologist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and a senior scientist with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, discusses using cord blood derived stem cell therapy to improve lung disease and repair organ damage in premature infants.

Share the Science with Dr. Curtis Cetrulo, Sr. Women’s Health: Perinatal Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine (Save the Cord Foundation), May 11, 2016
Description: Dr. Cetrulo, Sr. discusses the importance of perinatal stem cells and the impact they will have on treating a variety of diseases. In particular, Dr. Cetrulo, Sr. discusses how he anticipates that in the near future people who go to emergency rooms with chest pain, with the presumptive diagnosis of a heart attack, or myocardial infarction (MI), will be given an off-the-shelf stem cell preparation to prevent heart muscle damage.

Share the Science (en español) con la Dra. Maria Craig: ¿Es posible prevenir o curar la diabetes con sangre del cordón umbilical? El estudio CoRD (Save the Cord Foundation), August 17, 2016 
Description: La Dra. María Craig, profesora de endocrinología pediátrica, la Universidad de Sídney y la Red de Hospitales Pediátricos de Sídney, se unieron recientemente a “Share the Science” para analizar el estudio de reinfusión de sangre de cordón umbilical para la diabetes (CoRD, Cord blood Reinfusion in Diabetes). El estudio innovador representa una novedad mundial en el uso de sangre de cordón umbilical para el posible tratamiento o incluso la cura de la diabetes tipo 1. Durante este seminario web, la Dra. Craig nos ayuda a comprender más sobre el sistema inmunológico en niños con riesgo de desarrollar diabetes tipo 1, así como la posibilidad de prevenir la enfermedad.

Share the Science with Dr. Maria Craig: Can we prevent or cure diabetes with cord blood? The CoRD Study (Australia) (Save the Cord Foundation), August 17, 2016
Description: Dr. Maria Craig, professor of paediatric endocrinology, the University of Sydney and Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, discusses the CoRD study (Cord blood Reinfusion in Diabetes). This pioneering study represents a world-first in using cord blood to potentially treat or even cure Type 1 diabetes.

Share the Science with Morey Krauss: Perinatal Stem Cells from Umbilical Tissue and their Potential Use in Newborns with Hypoxic Ischemic Injuries. (Save the Cord Foundation), September 22, 2016
Description: Morey Krauss is the Chief Scientific Officer at Diagnostic Division of PerkinElmer, Inc. where he oversees scientific affairs for the maternal fetal health business. Mr Kraus will speak on the potential use of perinatal cells from umbilical cord tissue and their potential use in newborns with hypoxic ischemic injuries.

Share the Science with Linda Peltier, PhD: Improve operating costs and maximize potential of cord blood. (Save the Cord Foundation), November 17, 2016
Description: Linda Peltier has become an authority in clinical and laboratory quality insurance. She has specialized in cord blood banking and stem cell processing with over 35 years experience in different healthcare fields. She will share her experience in improving operating costs and how to maximize the potential.

Share the Science with Dr. Colleen Delaney: The possible clinical applications of expanded cord blood progenitor cells. (Save the Cord Foundation), December 7, 2016
Description: Dr. Colleen Delany is the Scientific Founder and Chief Medical Officer Nohla Theraputics, Inc. She will discuss methods for expanding cord blood stem and progenitor cells and the clinical application for these cells for cord blood transplant and chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.

Share the Science with Dr. James Baumgartner: Autologous Cord Blood Stem Cell Applications for Pediatric Stroke and Acquired Hearing Loss (Save the Cord Foundation), December 2, 2015;
Description: Watch the recorded webinar to hear Dr. James Baumgartner, Surgical Director, Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Center, Florida Hospital for Children, speak about using cord blood to treat acquired hearing loss and perinatal stroke in children.

Share the Science with Kate Girard: Novel Applications for Newborn Stem Cells: Exploring Regenerative Properties (Save the Cord Foundation), October 15, 2015
Description: Watch the recorded webinar to hear Kate Girard, Director of Clinical Affairs and Regenerative Medicine at ViaCord, speak about the novel applications for newborn stem cells, current regenerative medicine applications of cord blood stem cells, and potential future applications of cord-tissue-derived stem cells.

Share the Science with Dr. Curtis Cetrulo Jr.: Stem cells and Immunologic Tolerance Induction for Hand and Face Transplantation (Save the Cord Foundation), October 2015 
Description: Dr. Cetrulo, Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon and Stem Cell Researcher from Massachusetts General Hospital will speak about the advancements involving transplanted limbs and reconstructive cosmetic surgeries using stem cells.

Share the Science with Dr. Susana G. Gomez: Quality Cord in Cord Blood Banking (Save the Cord Foundation), June 24, 2015
Description: Watch the recorded webinar to hear Dr. Susana Gomez, Director of the Cord Blood Bank at Anthony Nolan Cell Therapy Centre in the UK, speak about quality cord in cord blood banking.

Share the Science with Sharon Miller: FDA Licensure of HPC, Cord Blood: How Licensure Has Improved Cord Blood Banking (Save the Cord Foundation), April 29, 2015
Description: Watch the recorded webinar to hear Sharon Miller, Director of Regulatory Affairs at ClinImmune Labs, speak about the positive effects of FDA licensure on HPC, Cord Blood, and how licensure has improved cord blood banking.

Share the Science with Dr. Wayne Mcllwraith: Using stem cells to treat joint injury and osteoarthritis in horses and its translation relevance to humans (Save the Cord Foundation), Spring 2015
Description: Currently, Dr Wayne McIlwraith is a University Distinguished Professor, Barbara Cox Anthony University Endowed Chair in Orthopedics, and is Director of the Orthopedic Research Center. He also directs the Musculoskeletal Research Program, a CSU Program of Research and Scholarly Excellence. The webinar will introduce you to the type of stem cells used to treat joint injury and osteoarthritis in horses, and numerous studies. The discussion will surround the results of various studies and conclude with a translational potential to humans.

Share the Science with Michael Boo: How to Build an Effective National Inventory of Publicly Available Cord Blood Units (Save the Cord Foundation), February 19, 2015
Description: Watch the recorded webinar to hear Michael Boo, Chief Strategy Officer of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), speak on how to build a more effective national inventory of publicly available cord blood units.

Share the Science with Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg: Cord Blood Transplantation for Genetic and Acquired Brain Diseases (Save the Cord Foundation), May 19, 2014 
Description: Watch the recorded webinar to hear Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg, M.D., speak about cord blood transplantation for genetic and acquired brain diseases.

Cord Blood Potency and Release (NetCord), October 10, 2013
Description: This webinar will be presented by Gesine Kögler, PhD of the José Carreras Cord Blood Bank. Cord blood units are not only intensively examined during processing before cryopreservation, but also prior to release for transplantation. Therefore, potency of a unit must be defined before release on segments and cryopreserved aliquots. Currently estimation of the potency, i.e., the capability to rebuild the patient’s hematopoietic system, is performed by flow cytometric analysis of CD34+ cells as well as the assessment of CFC formation in a methycellulose-assay. Methodological aspects and technical improvements will be discussed.

Cord Blood Cryopreservation (NetCord), July 25, 2013
Description: Paolo Rubella, MD of the Center of Cellular Therapy and Cryobiology at the Fondazione Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy will present basic concepts in cryobiology related to ice formation in biological materials during transition from liquid to frozen phase. Examples will be given of “good” and “bad” cord blood cryopreservation thermal profiles.

Measuring Viability of Cord Blood Products (NetCord), April 25, 2013 
Description: Sergio Querol Giner, MD, PhD of Programa Concordia Banc de Sang i Teixits and Richard Duggleby, PhD of the Anthony Nolan Research Institute will address the various methods for progenitor cell assessment that have been used and their applicability in the CB field.

Cord Blood CD34 and Cell Content (NetCord), January 31, 2013 
Description: Riccardo Saccardi, MD, of Careggi University Hospital Cord Blood Bank in Florence Italy, will discuss a prospective study on behalf of Eurocord and NetCord on Cord Blood CD34.

Placental Derived Mesenchymal Cells, Isolation, Processing and Characterization (ISCT), September 2011
Description: This webinar focuses on the isolation, processing and characterization of placenta-derived cells, with special emphasis on mesenchymal stromal/stem cells that can be isolated from placental tissues. It also addresses the most significant achievements to date in the field of placental cell-based therapeutic approaches.