Cord Blood Registry, Stanford University and Cord Blood Donor Foundation
Collaborate
SAN BRUNO, Calif., May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cord Blood Registry (CBR),
in collaboration with the Cord Blood Donor Foundation (CBDF), is participating
in a Breast Cancer Study at Stanford University School of Medicine. Funded by
the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the study will examine potential
links of the pre-natal environment to the risk of breast cancer in women.
Beginning this week, prenatal CBR clients that know they are expecting
baby girls will be offered the opportunity to donate plasma for the study. The
donated plasma is a component of cord blood that is routinely discarded after
the processing and storage of a baby's cord blood stem cells. CBR's clients
voluntary participation in the study will help further the current knowledge
of breast cancer.
Cord Blood Registry is the nation's largest family umbilical cord blood
bank and has processed and banked more stem cells than any other facility in
the world. Previously discarded, cord blood is collected from the umbilical
cord when a baby is born, and has been used to treat more than 30 diseases
since it was discovered to contain stem cells, the cells that create the vital
components of blood and the immune system. Umbilical cord blood stem cells can
be easily collected and banked for potential future use as a type of
"biological insurance." Over 12,000 families have chosen to bank with CBR.
"We are excited about this opportunity of taking advantage of the unique
resources at CBR and CBDF," says Atsuko Shibata, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant
Professor of Health Research and Policy, at the Stanford University School of
Medicine. "The major goal of this study is to compare estrogen levels in cord
blood among female babies of the four racial/ethnic groups whose breast cancer
risk varies significantly. The study relates to the hypothesis that the
formation of breast cancer could start very early in a woman's life. This is
an important research question, and yet difficult to study."
Dr. Shibata, who is the principal investigator, will be testing samples
from baby girls that are among African-American, Asian, Caucasian, and
Hispanic groups.
"We look forward to collaborating with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation, Stanford University School of Medicine and CBR on such an
important study. Cord blood is not only an invaluable resource in the
treatment of diseases, but equally important in the area of research," says
Gloria J. Ochoa, President, Cord Blood Donor Foundation.
Cord Blood Registry is a founding member and active supporter of the Cord
Blood Donor Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to building an
ethnically balanced stem cell bank and providing education and medical
research.
SOURCE Cord Blood Registry
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Related links:
http://www.cordblood.com
CONTACT:
Scoti Kaesshaefer of the Cord Blood Registry,
650-635-1420, ext. 456
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