2011 brought some welcome news in the world of cord blood stem cell research. On January 5, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston announced it had begun enrollment for the first FDA-regulated Phase I safety study, to investigate the use of a child’s own umbilical cord blood stem cells as a treatment for traumatic brain injury in children. The study is being performed in conjunction with Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, UTHealth’s primary children’s teaching hospital.

The study will enroll children ages 18 months to 17 years, all of whom have umbilical cord blood banked with CBR, to ensure consistency in cord blood stem cell processing, storage and release for infusion. The study is one example of how CBR’s Center for Regenerative Medicine is collaborating with investigators nationwide to increase research interest in umbilical cord blood stem cells. The Center supports and advances medical research in regenerative treatments and helps to link client families with clinical researchers with trials currently in place or on the horizon.

The trial also follows on the heels of another FDA-regulated study at the Georgia Health Sciences University, home of the Medical College of Georgia, to determine whether an infusion of stem cells from umbilical cord blood is safe and can improve the quality of life for children with cerebral palsy. The study, which began enrolling participants last year, will include children age 1-12 whose parents have also stored cord blood with CBR.

If you are a CBR client and are interested in participating in these studies or if you’d like to learn more about clinical trials involving cord blood stem cell, please visit the CBR Center for Regenerative Medicine online.