Year: 2019
Type: article
Abstract: The scientific abstracts submitted to this year’s Cord Blood Connect international congress reflect tremendous growth and advances in cell therapy and regenerative medicine. Ranging from pre-clinical studies to clinical trials, they complement the overall scientific agenda of the congress, presenting additional research areas and clinical trial outcomes data. The Abstract Review Committee chose three scientific abstracts for Best Abstract Awards. Two of them are exciting pre-clinical studies highlighting the unique properties of cord blood as a source of cells for regenerative medicine and immunotherapy application. Arjun Saha provides mechanistic data on properties of cord blood-derived monocytes that are not present in adult peripheral blood monocytes, enabling their use in the rescue of brain cells after hypoxic–ischemic injury. Carrie Stoltzman reports on the early-stage development of cord blood-derived natural killer cell adoptive immunotherapies using a Notch platform. Together, these abstracts underscore the importance of cord blood as a plentiful resource of starting material for the development of regenerative medicine and immunotherapy products and the broad clinical indications being pursued. The third scientific abstract selected for a Best Abstract Award discusses the use of an expanded access protocol of umbilical cord blood infusion for patients with neurologic conditions. Presented by Colleen McLaughlin, this abstract highlights an important pathway to provide ongoing clinical access to investigational procedures while efficacy trials are being conducted. Among other abstract topics are methods to enhance engraftment, clinical trials for rare diseases, identification of cord blood-derived cells with natural killer cell potential, and pre-clinical studies of the use of cord blood-derived therapies targeting neuroinflammation and other neurologic indications, such as autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Other abstracts concern optimization of and potential products generated from cord blood-derived MSCs. Recipients of the Best Abstract Awards will give oral presentations of their abstracts at 5:15 pm, Saturday, September 14, followed by a Poster Session at 6 pm when the authors of all abstract will be at their posters. I strongly encourage you to attend these sessions to interact with and support the work of these investigators and authors. There will be topics of interest to all attendees, and it is sure to be educational!
DOI: 10.1002/sctm.12586
Author: Colleen Delaney
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics (clinical)
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,750
OpenAlex ID: W4234710463