Cordlife Philippines secures license for clinical laboratory operations

PHILIPPINES: Cordlife Philippines has achieved a significant milestone with the acquisition of its License To Operate (LTO) for its clinical laboratory, as granted by the Philippines Department of Health. This license authorizes Cordlife to provide a broader spectrum of medical services beyond its cord blood banking services.

This achievement underscores Cordlife's commitment to enhancing support for expectant mothers and their families. By expanding its range of diagnostic and screening services, Cordlife empowers expectant parents and individuals with a wider array of high-quality healthcare choices.

If you are expecting a baby now, find out how Cordlife Non-invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT), Chromosomal Microarray Analysis and Baby Genetic Screening can effectively detect chromosomal abnormalities and risk factors at an early stage, allowing for timely intervention and treatment planning. Cordlife Philippines is dedicated to offering the necessary resources and information for a healthier tomorrow.

HealthBaby Hong Kong empowered expectant parents with useful pregnancy tips

HONG KONG: HealthBaby Hong Kong recently held a comprehensive pregnancy and birthing seminar on 6 April 2024, aiming to equip expectant parents with vital information ahead of their baby's arrival. The session, entitled "Childbirth Methods and Pre and Postpartum Precautions" led by Dr. Lee Yun Ting, covered a wide array of topics essential for parenthood preparation. Discussions ranged from birthing options and infant care to managing common pregnancy discomforts.

During the seminar, HealthBaby's team also highlighted the potential advantages of cord blood banking, emphasising the therapeutic potential of stem cells derived from cord blood, cord lining, and cord tissue. These stem cells possess remarkable potential for treating various medical conditions, offering potentially life-saving benefits not only for the child but for the entire family. As the seminar drew to a close, attendees were abuzz with interest about the option of banking their newborn's stem cells, acknowledging the potential future health benefits it could provide. Some of them even took immediate action by enrolling in the service on the spot.

If you know someone currently expecting a baby who could benefit from insights provided in our upcoming pregnancy and birthing seminars or who may be interested in learning about the advantages of stem cells to safeguard the health of their newborn and family, please direct them to us for further details.

CORDLIFE IN SPOTLIGHT

Cordlife Indonesia held 8^th Trisomy Awareness Bash with POTADS (Community of Parents with Down Syndrome Children)

INDONESIA: In March 2024, Cordlife Indonesia and POTADS (Community of Parents with Down Syndrome Children) joined forces to host the 8th Trisomy Awareness Bash in commemoration of World Down Syndrome Day. This annual event, established in 2017, served as a platform to raise awareness about Down syndrome while celebrating the achievements of children living with the condition.

The festivities featured a diverse range of activities, including the highly anticipated "Down Syndrome Got Talent Season 4 Colouring and Painting" contest, where children proudly displayed their artistic talents. These engaging activities showcased the innate abilities of children with Down syndrome, emphasising their potential for extraordinary accomplishments.

In conjunction with the celebration, Cordlife Indonesia organised an art exhibition at a hospital in Jakarta, aiming to raise awareness of Down syndrome among medical professionals and patients. Furthermore, the team conducted informative sessions with doctors to highlight the importance of Cordlife NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing), a essential screening tool capable of identifying chromosomal abnormalities in foetuses as early as 10 weeks into pregnancy.

UPDATES AROUND THE WORLD

Exploring Cord Blood Stem Cells as Potential Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

UNITED STATES: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents a complex neurodevelopmental challenge, impacting a child's social communication and behaviour. While a cure for ASD remains elusive, researchers are actively investigating innovative treatment avenues, including the therapeutic potential of cord blood stem cells.

Cord blood, harvested at birth, is a rich source of stem cells renowned for their versatility in differentiating into various cell types. Preliminary studies suggest that these stem cells may hold promise for treating ASD symptoms, sparking optimism within the scientific community.

The Bio-Forum Foundation recently reached a major milestone with its clinical trial, CORDUS (NCT04007224). This trial employed a cross-over design, in which all participating children received their own cord blood, either initially or at a later visit two months later. Half of the children met the study's inclusion criteria, aged 3 to 7 and weighing under 30 kg, while the others, older or larger, received cord blood therapy as compassionate treatment.

Following cord blood therapy, a remarkable 79% of the younger group showed statistically significant improvements in verbalisation and social interaction post-therapy, contrasting with only 10% in the older group. Parental observations varied widely, with some reporting transformative changes and others noting no change. While some children exhibited decreased neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels after treatment, no correlation was found between NSE levels and therapy outcomes. While these initial findings are promising, further rigorous research is indispensable to corroborate the efficacy and safety of cord blood stem cell therapy for ASD.

Moving ahead, the Bio-Forum Foundation intends to conduct additional trials on cord blood and perinatal cell interventions for ASD to identify children who would benefit most from cord blood therapy by exploring variables such as initial child status and cord blood unit properties.