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Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a complex disorder with a wide range of signs and symptoms. No two children with autism are exactly alike, however, they may share commonalities such as difficulties with language and social interactions.
While the cause of autism remains unknown, some researchers believe that it may stem from differences within the immune system, at least in some cases. Previous studies have documented that some children with autism have certain markers in their blood work that suggest an elevated immune response. 94, 95
Scientists are hoping to find new treatments that "calm" this overactive immune response to help protect the developing brain in young children with autism.
Cord blood stem cells may have unique advantages:
Led by Dr. Michael Chez, Director of Pediatric Neurology at Sutter Medical Center, researchers recently published the results of a phase II clinical trial investigating the safety and efficacy of autologous cord blood stem cells for children with autism that employed a double-blind, placebo-controlled design. 99 In 2017, researchers at Duke University published a phase I safety trial evaluating autologous cord blood in children with autism. 100 The interest in cord blood as a potential cellular therapy, combined with the positive trends from these early stage research studies, speaks to the momentum of newborn stem cell science. As part of CBR's commitment to advancing the science of newborn stem cells, CBR has provided all institutional funding for the Sutter clinical trial.
Researchers believe that this is a worthwhile line of scientific inquiry, and larger studies are needed to establish evidence regarding efficacy of cord blood in children with autism and whether some children may be more likely to respond to this type of treatment than others.
CBR continues to keep our clients informed and connected. We encourage our clients to participate in the Family Health Registry™, where we identify conditions common among CBR families, such as autism. This helps us to learn more about the conditions and connect individuals who might be candidates to the researchers studying new potential applications.