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What is Cord Tissue?

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CBR is the #1 choice of Ob/Gyns and expectant families, having already saved cord blood for more than 325,000 newborns.

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The CBR Difference Thousands of families choose CBR based on our long history of success, superior technology, and unparalleled experience.
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Girl's Own Cord Blood Used in an Experimental Treatment for Her Brain Injury

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Dr. Manny Alvarez,
FOX News medical correspondent and health editor.
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Using Cord Blood in Regenerative Medicine

Dr. BaumgartnerLeading pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Baumgartner talks about cord blood research and brain injury.
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Cord tissue is a rich source of a valuable type of stem cell that has the power to heal

What is Cord Tissue?

The umbilical cord (cord tissue) contains mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which create structural and connective tissue. These cells are currently being researched as a potential therapy for a broad range of debilitating health conditions and common injuries including spinal cord injury, stroke, and cartilage damage.

What is Cord Tissue Banking?

CBR is the only bank in the U.S. to offer you the unique opportunity to save your newborn's stem cells from cord tissue. The cells in cord tissue are different from those found in cord blood and may help repair the body in different ways. Although there are no therapies using cord tissue cells today, saving both types of stems cells can give even more peace of mind for your family's future.

If you do not save your baby's cord tissue, it is discarded as medical waste.

How are Mesenchymal Stem Cells Used in Medical Treatments?

Although using cord tissue MSCs in research is still at an early stage, there are more than 80 clinical trials underway using this same type of cell (primarily from bone marrow). Researchers believe that MSCs may also be able to one day help treat conditions such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart failure, liver damage, and bone fractures.

How is My Baby's Cord Tissue Collected?

After your baby's umbilical cord has been clamped and cut, and after cord blood collection (if also performed), your doctor or midwife will collect a 4-to 8-inch segment of the umbilical cord and place it in the CBR CordCup™. The collection kit is then returned to CBR's laboratory by an express courier. Cord tissue collection is safe for both the mother and baby and can be done after vaginal or cesarean births.

How is Cord Tissue Stored?

CBR stores a segment of the umbilical cord and all of the cells within it for your family. The cord tissue is frozen in CBR's cryogenic storage tanks for long-term preservation. If your baby's cells are needed for therapies in the future, the cord tissue can be processed to extract the cells using the best technology at that time.

How are Cord Tissue Stem Cells Different From Cord Blood Stem Cells?

Cord tissue is a rich source of mesenchymal stem cells which create structural and connective tissue, and cord blood is a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells which create the blood and immune system. Since cord blood and cord tissue are rich sources of different types of stem cells, they may help repair the body in different ways.

What is the Cost of Saving My Baby's Cord Tissue?

Click here to learn about pricing for cord tissue banking.

Banking cord blood does not guarantee that the cells will provide a cure or be applicable for every situation. For inherited genetic conditions, the child will not be able to use his or her own stem cells. A matched sibling's stem cells would be the first choice. Ultimate use will be determined by the treating physician. Treatment for brain injury and juvenile diabetes is experimental and currently requires the use of your own cord blood. Medical treatments using family banked cord tissue are in early research and are not available today; there is no guarantee that therapies will be developed in the future.
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