Umbilical cord blood is a rich source of haematopoietic (blood) stem cells. These cells are able to make the different types of cell in the blood - red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Haematopoietic stem cells, purified from bone marrow or blood, have long been used in stem cell treatments for leukaemia, blood and bone marrow disorders, cancer (when chemotherapy is used) and immune deficiencies.

Since 1989, haematopoietic stem cell transplants using umbilical cord blood have successfully treated children with leukaemia, anaemias and other blood diseases. Researchers are now looking at ways of increasing the number of these stem cells obtained from cord blood, so that they can be used to routinely treat adults too.

Beyond these blood-related disorders, we still have much to learn about the therapeutic potential of umbilical cord blood stem cells. Scientists agree that clinical trials are needed. One clinical trial in the USA, for example, is looking at the efficacy of treating children with type 1 diabetes with stem cells from their own stored umbilical cord blood.

There have been several reports describing how stem cells in umbilical cord blood are able to become other types of cells (such as nerve cells). Other reports claim that umbilical cord blood contains embryonic stem cell-like cells. Either finding would increase the therapeutic potential of umbilical cord blood considerably; however both need to be confirmed independently before umbilical cord stem cells can be used in therapy for other, non-blood diseases.

Relevant links:
List of diseases treatable by haematopoietic stem cell transplant
Selling the Stem Cell Dream - an article in the journal Science about untested cell therapies, including those using umbilical cord blood (subscription required).