Collaboration will investigate non-controversial source of potential
stem cell therapies for premature babies
WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
PerkinElmer,
Inc., a global leader focused on improving the health and safety of
people and the environment, announced today that its family cord blood
banking business, ViaCord®,
entered into a collaborative study with Miracle
Babies, a non-profit organization supporting families with newborns
in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU).
This collaboration will study and promote the discovery of methods for
optimizing collection of umbilical cord blood and cord tissue stem cells
following premature births, providing a valuable resource for potential
therapeutic use. Participating families will benefit from complimentary
collection of their baby's umbilical cord blood, which has been shown to
treat nearly
80 life-threatening diseases, and cord tissue, a rich source of
mesenchymal stem cells expected to play an important role in
regenerative medicine.
The study will focus on infants born prior to the 34th week
of pregnancy and findings will provide insight into the unique
characteristics of umbilical cord blood and tissue stem cells of babies
born prematurely. Throughout the study, researchers will obtain data
surrounding cord blood and cord tissue stem cell collection in premature
infants, including volume, tissue mass, cellular composition and other
variables. Collections for the study will be taken at Sharp
Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns in San Diego.
"The therapeutic benefits of umbilical cord blood and cord tissue stem
cells have the potential to address significant unmet need in the
treatment of severe illnesses in premature babies," said Morey Kraus,
Chief Scientific Officer, ViaCord. "By understanding the conditions
surrounding stem cell collection and the characteristics of stem cells
from premature babies, we hope to improve therapeutic options in this
particular demographic where access to stem cell therapies has been
historically challenging, yet have the potential to be especially
beneficial."
"Our collaboration with ViaCord aligns with our goal of holistically
providing support for families with premature infants," said Sean
Daneshmand, MD, founder of Miracle Babies. "This effort will have
significant implications in improving treatment access for the one in
eight babies born prematurely in the U.S. every year."
Individuals born prematurely have shown to be more susceptible to a
range of health complications, including intellectual disability, lung
problems and vision and hearing loss. A recent study published in the Journal
of the American Medical Association also found that babies born
prematurely are at an especially increased risk for cerebral palsy1,
an indication which is currently under investigation in FDA sanctioned
clinical protocols using cord blood stem cells. Current research is
determining the role of umbilical cord-derived stem cells in the
treatment of a variety of other diseases with no known cure, such as
Type 1 Diabetes and leukemia. This advancement of stem cell research and
extraction in preterm births may improve the availability of future
therapeutic options for individuals born prematurely.
For more information about the study and collaboration between ViaCord
and Miracle Babies, please visit www.miraclebabies.org.
ViaCord's family cord
blood banking services currently offers expectant families the
opportunity to preserve their baby's umbilical cord blood and cord
tissue for potential medical use by the child or a related family
member. To date, ViaCord has preserved the umbilical cord blood of more
than 250,000 newborns. Twenty years ago, cord blood stem cells were used
to treat just one disease, Fanconi's anemia. Today there are nearly 80
diseases treatable with cord blood stem cells, including cancers,
certain blood disorders and immunodeficiencies. Please visit www.viacord.com
for more information.
About Miracle Babies
Our mission is to provide education, support, and financial assistance
to families with newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Every year more than 500,000 babies are born prematurely. As overwhelmed
families grapple with the terrifying uncertainties, they often find
themselves faced with unexpected financial difficulties. With something
so precious to lose, it is important that we give as much as we can. To
learn more about how you can help Miracle Babies, please visit http://www.miraclebabies.org.
About PerkinElmer, Inc.
PerkinElmer, Inc. is a global leader focused on improving the health and
safety of people and the environment. The Company reported revenue of
approximately $1.7 billion in 2010, has about 7,000 employees serving
customers in more than 150 countries, and is a component of the S&P 500
Index. Additional information is available through 1-877-PKI-NYSE, or at www.perkinelmer.com.
1Moster,
D., et. al. (2010). Cerebral Palsy Among Term and Postterm Births. Journal
of the American Medical Association. 304 (9), 976 — 982.
Edelman (On behalf of PerkinElmer, Inc.)
Amanda L. Connolly,
404-832-6785
Amanda.Connolly@edelman.com
Source: PerkinElmer, Inc.
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