Cryo-Cell International – Innovative Stem Cell Solutions

The recent release of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) draft guidelines on stem cell research funding should inspire innovation, not incite controversy. It’s time to talk about stem cell research without provoking debate or raising ethical dilemmas. It’s time to talk about adult stem cells.

In recent years, intense discussion surrounding stem cell research has focused primarily on embryonic stem cells (ESCs). While these stem cells are capable of transforming into every cell type in the body and hold great promise for creating regenerative cell-based therapies to treat a broad range of diseases, they remain highly controversial because of the source from which they are derived as well as their propensity to form (cancerous) terratomas. In view of these shortcomings, it is perplexing why media, government, and the public have paid so little attention to non-controversial adult stem cells which are harvested from alternative sources and may even transcend the promise of ESCs.

Adult stem cells have the ability to differentiate into many types of cells; can be collected from non-controversial sources; may be abundantly available and potentially derived from renewable sources; and have demonstrated safety and efficacy. Umbilical cord blood stem cells are a prime example of the benefits of adult stem cells which have been proven to treat more than 75 life-threatening illnesses, including leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia and thalessemia. Since the first cord blood stem cell transplant in 1988, an estimated 12,000 cord blood transplants have occurred worldwide.

Cryo-Cell International, Inc. discovered that stem cells harvested from menstrual blood have the ability to differentiate into many other types and may potentially be pluripotent. This is the first stem cell with both adult and embryonic markers that multiplies rapidly from a renewable source; can differentiate into other cell types, and can also be easily harvested in a painless, non-invasive manner as compared to other stem cell sources such as bone marrow or mobilized peripheral blood. In November 2007, Cryo-Cell introduced a revolutionary and proprietary new service, C’elle, empowering women to collect and cryopreserve their own menstrual stem cells for future potential therapies.

Preclinical research suggests that menstrual stem cells have the potential to one day treat a host of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and perhaps other neurological disorders. It’s possible that one day, menstrual blood stem cells may also be used for vascular regeneration; breast cancer therapy; or perhaps skin regeneration and wound-healing.

Even more exciting is that a woman has the ability to invest in her future healthcare by collecting and saving these non-controversial stem cells that may grow in value over time as regenerative therapies emerge.

Thanks to President Obama, we can continue the promising work we’ve started. So let’s not get mired in the controversy. Let’s encourage legislation that further explores and funds adult stem cell research. We cannot afford to marginalize the life-saving potential that adult stem cells bring.

Mercedes A. Walton is Chairman & CEO of Cryo-Cell International, Inc., an industry leader in cord blood banking and innovative stem cell solutions, with more than 175,000 clients worldwide.

If the world’s leading stem cell researchers were asked to describe characteristics of the ideal stem cell, I personally believe their descriptions would include the following set of features: 1). the ability to differentiate into many types of cells; 2). non-invasive collection techniques from non-controversial sources; 3). the availability of a vastly renewable cell source; 4). low immunological reaction to mitigate tissue matching considerations; 5). demonstrated safety: not likely to produce cancer.

Human beings begin life as a single stem cell for thirty minutes from the moment of conception when a woman's egg is fertilized by her partner's sperm. Shortly thereafter, this single stem cell begins to multiply into hundreds of millions of stem cells as the embryo develops during the early stages of pregnancy. At around 120 days from conception, during the formative stages of the fetus, stem cells begin the process of differentiation at which time they begin to transform into every other cell type in the body such as heart, muscle, nerve, bone, etc. This process continues throughout the final stages of pregnancy until birth. Throughout adult life, our bodies continue to produce stem cells that serve as a vital source of regeneration and repair.

I hypothesized that menstrual fluid potentially contained a viable source of non-differentiated stem cells that may be utilized upon harvest, or cryopreserved for the future, to provide an ideal source for a vast range of regenerative stem cell therapies. Given lifetime experiences with our “Monthly Miracle®”, there is something very powerful about the focused, collaborative and innovative chemistry of women. I explored the concept with Dr. Julie Allickson, Cryo-Cell’s V.P. – R&D and Laboratory Operations, who partnered with me to design and develop protocols necessary to test this hypothesis.  Little did we know at the time that we were about to discover what may possibly become a seismic breakthrough in stem cell science. Menstrual flow contains millions of unique and amazing adult stem cells that demonstrate properties similar to bone marrow and embryonic stem cells. These stem cells multiply rapidly and have potential to differentiate into possibly every other cell type in the human body.  Is it conceivable that C’elle® menstrual stem cells could potentially become the Holy Grail of stem cells?
In November, 2007 Cryo-Cell announced its discovery of novel stem cell technology and launched the world’s first-ever commercial service allowing women to collect and cryopreserve their own menstrual stem cells for future therapeutic use by the donor or possibly a first-degree relative. The proprietary service, C’elle, is protected by Cryo-Cell’s expansive intellectual property portfolio and C’elle patent pending worldwide technology. Cryo-Cell has executed research partnerships with several leading stem cell researchers who initiated promising preclinical (non-human) studies to develop therapies to potentially treat diabetes, cardiac, stroke, vascular regeneration and breast cancer. We invite you to visit our website at www.Celle.com to subscribe to this exclusive cutting edge service that may potentially impact your life or loved ones as future therapies emerge.

I welcome you to Cryo-Cell’s CEO Blog. I hope this blog will provide a candid and meaningful forum to share ideas and debate opinions about stem cells. As a stem cell industry insider since 2000, I’ve observed unprecedented growth and transformation of stem cells and regenerative medicine in the context of public awareness and opinion. Cryo-Cell is a pioneer in non-controversial stem cells; however, much of the intense controversy and debate about stem cell research is focused on the embryonic stem cell (ESC).

Opponents of ESC research argue that a human embryo is a human life and is therefore entitled to protection. They also believe that ESC technology may potentially lead to reproductive cloning that stands to devalue human life. Advocates of ESC research on the other hand argue that this research should be supported because it may possibly lead to development of therapies that may treat conditions and diseases for which there are currently no cures. Citing an estimated inventory of more than 500,000 frozen embryos created in the U.S. alone for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) since the late 1980s as IVF became mainstream, ESC research advocates suggest that with appropriate consent and ethical oversight, donated embryos may provide a viable source of stem cells for stem cell research and potential future therapeutic applications.

During the first three months of 2009 alone, there are three major developments that will likely have profound influence on public policy and opinion regarding the future of stem cell research. President Obama signed an Executive Order on March 9th reversing the 2001 Executive Order banning federal funds for embryonic stem cell research. Geron Corporation announced on January 29th that FDA granted clearance of the world’s first study of human ESC-based therapy to treat patients with spinal cord injury; and on January 26th Nadia Suleman gave birth to octuplets through assisted reproductive technology-- influenced in part by the view that her frozen embryos should not be destroyed. Current events related to the intense ESC debate will continue to unfold and shape public opinion, policy and practice.

Whatever your personal view may be about the stem cell debate, there is indisputable evidence that stem cells save lives. Since the first cord blood stem cell transplant in 1988, an estimated 10,000 cord blood transplants have occurred worldwide. In 1992, Cryo-Cell International became the pioneer in private family cord blood banking and we believe that our non-controversial signature U-Cord® service offers superior quality and the best value in the industry. Cryo-Cell has served over 175,000 clients worldwide and many of our early clients are now nearly young adults. In November 2007, Cryo-Cell introduced a revolutionary and proprietary new service, C’elle, empowering women to collect and cryopreserve their own menstrual stem cells for future potential therapies. In an upcoming blog, I will share the Cryo-Cell story of our fascinating discovery of C’elle and discuss some inspiring insights on how stem cell innovation may serve to impact your life and the lives of those you love in the future.