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Margaret Wallace, President/CEO |
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The biomedical breakthroughs experienced over the last decade are exciting.. Scientists are discovering new and improved ways to treat patients with body tissues containing valuable cells that can be used for regenerative medicine. This exciting new field of medicine means doctors could create new cardiac cells for faulty hearts, new neurons for broken spinal cords, new pancreatic cells for diabetics … and the list goes on. Additionally, these special cells eventually could help cure genetic conditions such as sickle cell disease.
Scientists envision someday ordering the “super cells” as easily as ordering a unit of blood from LifeShare today. Realizing the inevitable need for expanded services, LifeShare officials have embarked on a collaborative effort to provide a Public Umbilical Cord Blood Program to Louisiana residents.
Currently, umbilical cord blood stem cells are used to treat over 70 diseases, many of which are various forms of cancer. Umbilical cord blood, rich in stem cells, is used for transplant purposes much like bone marrow. Research has determined cord blood transplants to be a better alternative to bone marrow transplants because:
- There is less probability that the patient’s body will reject the cord blood stem cells.
- There is a better chance of finding a cord blood match over a bone marrow match.
- Acquiring the cord blood is not an invasive procedure for the donor.
Umbilical cord blood is obtained after a healthy baby is born under supervised medical care in the delivery room. Mothers consent to donate their umbilical cord blood for medical use before the baby is delivered. Currently, umbilical cords are thrown away as medical waste following a birth.
LifeShare will join other blood banks across the country in collecting cord blood. This is an obvious evolutionary step in the process of what LifeShare has done for more than 66 years - provide blood components to patients in the medical facilities we serve. Umbilical cord blood is another form of blood product which, with the help of science, has become increasingly in demand. Cord blood has become easier to collect, process, store and deliver; therefore, it makes sense for LifeShare to provide these services in a public program.
The State of Louisiana is investing $1 million to help initiate Louisiana’s Public Umbilical Cord Blood Program. LifeShare will set up the program as a community service non-profit organization serving the public interest.
Not all donated cord blood units are viable for patient transplants. LifeShare will make those non-viable units available for research and development purposes at the state’s universities and research institutions. A medical milestone or cure may be on the horizon in Louisiana as valuable resources and collaborative efforts are realized by visionaries who participate in the evolving world of biomedical technology.
This is an exciting time for medical science. LifeShare wishes to do its part to provide the resources necessary to make the latest medical treatments available to Louisiana residents. We appreciate all those who have offered support for this program. We look forward to working with you, our supporters, to continue realizing remarkable success. Together, we save lives. |
