This time of year is often called the “season of miracles.” While
different people celebrate the holidays in their own special way, this
time of year does become a period of reflection that has an uncanny way
of transcending race, religion, politics and geography, as the calendar
year draws to a close.
In the spirit of this season of miracles, I would like to pause and
reflect on 2009. This year has brought exciting progress and promise
for seismic advancements in stem cell research and development that may
well serve to transform our lives in the years to come.
I am awestruck at how rapidly stem cell science and potential
regenerative stem cell therapies are emerging. Stem cells from
umbilical cord blood, for example, have now been utilized to treat or
cure more than 75 diseases in over 12,000 transplants worldwide. Here
at Cryo-Cell, during the last three years alone our cord blood stem
cell transplants have increased by 135%.
With Cryo-Cell’s breakthrough discovery that menstrual blood contains
proliferative stem cells and our subsequent launch of the revolutionary
CélleSM
menstrual stem cell service, we are particularly proud to witness how
far Cryo-Cell’s proprietary menstrual stem cell technology has
progressed in just a few years.
Since the launch of Célle in 2007, Cryo-Cell has announced eight
research and development collaborations that may possibly lead to the
treatment or cure of conditions such as stroke, diabetes, heart
disease, breast cancer, wound-healing, vascular regeneration,
endometriosis and urinary incontinence. Cryo-Cell is extraordinarily
fortunate to partner with some of the world’s most distinguished stem
cell researchers who are exploring therapeutic developments that
utilize our menstrual stem cell technology and who are as excited about
the potential of Célle technology as we are.
Major advances in public policy have also provided great hope for stem
cell therapeutic breakthroughs. In March 2009, President Obama signed
an Executive Order that reversed a ban on the use of federal funds for
embryonic stem cell research thereby setting the tone for rapid
progress on all fronts of the stem cell industry. Two other federal
legislative acts were also set in motion with H.R. 1718, the Family Blood Cord Banking Act and H.R. 2107, The Cord Blood Education and Awareness Act of 2009.
These acts respectively would provide significant tax benefits for a
family’s costs associated with umbilical cord blood banking and
storage, and would mandate a public campaign to educate expectant
parents about their options for banking or donating their child’s cord
blood.
As an ever-growing global industry leader, the Cryo-Cell International
enterprise includes our progressive and highly-committed global license
affiliates who presently span twelve countries including: Brazil,
China, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Mexico,
Nicaragua, Panama, Thailand and Venezuela. Cryo-Cell now has over
200,000 clients worldwide.
On a personal level, I rejoice that my own season of miracles is filled
with abundant blessings. I am truly grateful to spend my life
dedicated to advancing Cryo-Cell as the global industry leader of stem
cell innovation. I am incredibly proud to work with an amazing team of
dedicated professionals and fellow directors at Cryo-Cell who believe
that every stem cell specimen we process and cryopreserve may possibly
one day save a life.
With continued encouragement and inspiration from my family, friends
and colleagues who mean so much to me, I personally hold steadfast to
an unwavering hope and belief that a myriad of revolutionary stem cell
therapies may be on the foreseeable horizon during our lifetime.
And so, it is my wish that your season of miracles be filled with
happiness and good health. And may one day, your life and the lives of
your loved ones be touched by the promise of stem cells.
Warmest regards,
Mercedes Walton
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