The holidays are a joyous time, especially for children. But that isn’t always the case for families with a child who is injured or ill, especially if there are limited treatment options to address their condition.

That’s why the mission of the non-profit Newborn Possibilities Fund is so important. This first-of-its-kind initiative was created with the goal of offering financial support to families who have a young child enrolled in FDA-regulated clinical trials evaluating the use of the child’s own cord blood stem cells for brain injury.  The ultimate goal is to advance clinical research that may help children lead more normal, healthy lives.

From now until the end of the year, CBR will match all donations of $25 or more made to the Newborn Possibilities Fund. Not only will your support make a difference to a family in need, but it will contribute to advancing an important area of medical research in pediatric brain injuries where current treatment options for are limited.
According to the United Cerebral Palsy Research and Education Foundation, each year 10,000 babies and infants are diagnosed with cerebral palsy and an additional 1,200 - 1,500 preschool age children are also recognized to have cerebral palsy.

However, researchers are studying how a child's own cord blood stem cells may help the body repair and regenerate damaged nerve tissue. The Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine is already accepting patients for the first FDA-approved clinical trial to evaluate the use of a child's own cord blood stem cells as a medical intervention for cerebral palsy.

The study will enroll 40 children ages 2-12 who meet the inclusion criteria for the study and whose cord blood is stored at Cord Blood Registry.  To donate this holiday season and encourage friends and family to do the same, please click here.

* The non-profit Newborn Possibilities Fund (NPF) is a donor-advised fund created by CBR and administered by the Tides Foundation, a public charity. In support of the NPF’s mission, CBR recommends grants be directed to non-profit institutions to provide financial assistance for families with a child participating in FDA-regulated clinical trials evaluating the use of the child’s own cord blood stem cells for conditions like cerebral palsy or pediatric brain injury.