To link patients in India with Duke Medicine’s research program
Cordlife India, a stem cell banking company has taken a unique initiative to assist Autistic patients who have stored their cord blood. The company has extended support to link patients in India with Dukes medicine research program for such treatment.
Said Mr. Jeremy Yee, Chief executive officer of Cordlife,” At Cordlife we care about and share patients’ interests in alleviating the pain and suffering of their children stricken with illnesses. Over the years we have earned the trust of the parents, to store their baby’s precious cord blood and cord lining with us. The Dukes medicine research program confirms our long held beliefs that the potential for future use of cord blood and cord lining will grow with the advancement in cell therapy.”
Mr. Meghnath Roy Chowdhury ,Managing Director of Cordlife India added, ” We are very excited about the development of cord blood usage in autism, such treatments can bring upon a revolution. It will not only help in treatment of autistic children, but also encourage us to find out more about the undiscovered potential of stem cells. Another important development would be the faith, expectant parents have on cord blood banking, and this should encourage more and more parents to avail the option of going for quality cord blood banking.”
Patients outside United states of America can participate in the clinical trial, if they meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria. They must be between 24 and 72 months, should have their cord blood stored privately and need to travel at least three times to Dukes University in United States. This Clinical trial is entirely sponsored by Dukes University. So participants need not pay for the cost of the treatment.
Duke Medicine has been awarded $15 million to support an innovative research program that explores the use of umbilical cord blood stem cells to treat autism, stroke, cerebral palsy and related brain disorders. Cord blood of the baby who is suffering has to be used for the treatment. This could prove a landmark milestone in the treatment of Autism. Joanne Kurtzberg and Geraldine Dawson of Duke Medicine hope to develop cell-based therapies that can potentially restore brain function in people with the disorders, for which there currently are no cures.
If successful, the study could identify therapies for further evaluation in clinical trials to potentially decrease disabilities and improve the quality of life for millions of children and adults. The project will consist of a series of clinical trials using umbilical cord blood cells to treat a total of 390 children and adults with autism.
EH News Bureau