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 Célle^SM 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