Pediatric Stroke Clinical Trial



Stroke occurs when blood flow is interrupted to part of the brain, leading to the destruction of brain cells. The risk of a stroke in children is greatest in the first year of life, and peaks during the perinatal period, roughly the weeks before and immediately after birth. Now, families who have saved their children’s cord blood with Cord Blood Registry® have access to a new use for the stem cells. A new clinical trial at the Florida Hospital for Children will investigate using a child’s own cord blood stem cells as treatment after a pediatric stroke.

How does the study work?

Recruitment is underway to enroll 10 children between the ages of 6 weeks and 6 years who have experienced a stroke in utero or immediately after birth, and who have a CBR-processed cord blood unit which was collected at birth. Subjects will first receive a baseline neurologic evaluation which includes brain imaging, evaluation of epilepsy, nerve impulses, and bladder control issues, which will help assess the overall severity of the stroke’s impact prior to treatment. After this evaluation is complete, eligible patients will receive a single autologous stem cell infusion, with follow-up testing to occur after six and 12 months.