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Netcells Biosciences is Africa's leading stem cell laboratory and
cryogenic biobank
based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Netcells
is accredited with the AABB and is the only cord blood bank on the
continent to hold this prestigious international accreditation.

Archive

         
     
      December 2014      

   
   
         
     
         
 

Dear Netcells Parent,

We cannot believe how quickly 2014 has flown by and we are already near the end of another year. 2014 has been a busy year for Netcells and there have been lots of exciting new developments in the Stem Cell Industry.

It is extremely important that we continue to keep in touch with you, therefore if any of your contact details change please ensure that you send us an email updating us with your latest contact details. Click here if you need to notify us of any recent changes.

 
   
         
     
   

Next year March we celebrate our 10th Birthday!

     
     
   

We would like to celebrate this milestone by creating a collage of all our special Netcells’ babies at their current age. Please email us a recent photo of your son/daughter- either a school portrait or a casual close-up as well as their date of birth.

Photos can be emailed to:
Catherine.brazier@netcells.co.za

     
     
         
     
   

Clinical Trials Currently Underway

     
     
   

Stem Cells have the potential to possibly revolutionise the way we treat various diseases in the future.

There are a large number of clinical trials that are currently underway and so far the results are proving to be extremely promising.

Below is a list showing clinical trials where cord blood is used in treatments other than bone marrow transplantation:

Clinical Trials using a child’s own (autologous) Cord Blood Stem Cells

DiagnosisOccurence in USATrial stageTrial registry
Acquired Hearing Loss 12.5% ages 6-19 phase 1 NCT01343394
NCT02038972
Autism 1.5% (1 in 68) children phase 2
phase 1
NCT01638819
NCT02176317
Cerebral Palsy 0.2% full term births,
2.2% premature births,
1 in 300 kids ages 5-10
phase 2 NCT01147653
NCT01072370
NCT01988584
Romania
Slovakia
Japan
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome 0.2 per 1000 births phase 1 NCT01445041
NCT01856049
Neonatal Oxygen Deprivation 0.2% full term births phase 1 NCT00593242
NCT01506258
NCT01649648
Japan
Traumatic Brain Injury 435,000 per yr ages 0-14
#1 cause of death in kids
phase 1 NCT01251003
NCT01700166
Type 1 Diabetes 1.7 per 1000 ages birth-19 phase 1 & 2 NCT00989547
NCT00873925
CoRD

Table copyright Frances Verter, PhD 2014

Clinical Trials using donor (allogeneic, includes siblings) Cord Blood Stem Cells

DiagnosisOccurence in USATrial stageTrial registry
Cartilage Repair 10-25% adolescents
have knee injuries
Approved by
Korean FDA
(Cartistem)
NCT01733186
Cerebral Palsy 2 per 1000 full term births phase 2 NCT01193660
NCT01528436
NCT01639404
NCT01991145
NCT02025972
Critical Limb Ischemia 2.5 per 1000 people,
over 80% of them diabetics
phase 1 NCT01019681
Premature Lungs (BPD) 25% births under 1500gm phase 2NCT01897987
Type 1 Diabetes 1.7 per 1000 ages birth-19 phase 2 NCT01350219
NCT01996228

Table copyright Frances Verter, PhD 2014

Resources for more information:

www.clinicaltrials.gov
www.celltrials.info

 
 
    

What is a clinical trial?

A clinical trial is a research study in human volunteers to answer specific health questions.

Clinical trials are carried out in four phases:

Phase I and Phase II trials check on safety – they make sure the treatment does no harm to patients.

Phase III or IV trials focus on assessing how effective the treatment is, and developing it into a therapy that can be made widely available.

    
 
   
     
         
     
   

Watch this TED talk on the future of stem cell medicine

     
     
   

Susan Solomon, the co-founder of the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) explains that ‘there are some really extraordinary things that we are doing with stem cells that are completely changing the way we model disease, our ability to understand why we get sick and even develop drugs.’

Click here to watch the TED talk.

     
     
         
     
   

New Cord Blood Trials at Duke University

     
     
   

A team at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina announced in June 2014 that they were set to launch a $40 million clinical trial to explore stem cells from the umbilical cord blood as a treatment for autism. The five-year trial also plans to test stem cell therapy for stroke and cerebral palsy.

The lead investigators on the trials are Joanne Kurtzberg, head of Duke’s Robertson Cell and Translational Therapy program, and Geraldine Dawson, Director of the Duke Centre for Autism and Brain Development.

Over a five-year span the trials plan to treat 390 children and adults with Autism, 100 children with cerebral palsy and 90 adult stroke patients.

“These trials could change the playing field of cord blood banking. They have the potential to increase both consumer demand for family storage and provide new indications for use of donated cord blood”.

Click here to read more about the Clinical Trials:

Duke Translational Medicine Institute
Patents Guide to Cord Blood Foundation

     
     
         
     
   

Stem Cell Researchers make breakthrough in type 1 diabetes treatment

     
     
   

Scientists at Harvard University have discovered how to create insulin-producing beta cells using human embryonic stem cells, at a volume required for cell transplantation. This discovery could mean the end of daily insulin injections for the large number of people living with Type 1 diabetes.

The stem cell-derived beta cells are presently undergoing trials in animal models and whilst it is probably still a few years away from being tested in patients it does give diabetes suffers hope.

Click here to read more.

     
     
         
     
   

Paralysed Man walks after stem cell transplant

     
     
   

A Polish man Darek Fidyka, was left paralysed after a knife attack in 2010. In 2012 he underwent pioneering therapy that involved transplanting cells from his nasal cavity into his spinal cord. It has been two years since the transplant and he is now able to walk with the aid of a Zimmer frame.

Click here to view a video which shows Darek Fidyka walking and find out more about the actual transplant.

     
     
         
     
   

Netcells Common Parent FAQs

     
     
   
  • Who can use the stored stem cells?
    Stem cells represent a perfect match for the baby from whom they’ve been collected and pose no risk of rejection if transplanted. There is also a good possibility that the stem cells will be a suitable match for a sibling (1 in 4 chance).
     
  • What is the procedure should we need to use the stem cells?
    Your medical practitioner will contact us and inform us that the stem cells are required for transplant, indicating the date, time and place. Netcells will only release the stem cells upon written approval by the Mother/ guardian and treating doctor.
     
  • Can I donate my baby’s stored stem cells to family/friends?
    Netcells is a private stem cell storage bank and the cord blood stem cells belong to the family- the parents are the guardians of the cord blood stem cells until the child turns 18 years old. The parents are entitled to store the cord blood for however long they would like to and they are also entitled to donate the stem cells to family/friends.
     
     
     
         
     
   

Discovery Health

     
     
   

Just a reminder that Discovery Health has partnered exclusively with Netcells Biosciences to offer its members up to a 25% discount off the price of stem cell storage with Netcells. Great news for those of you that are Discovery Health members and have another baby on the way.

For more information visit the Netcells website or the Discovery Health website.

     
     
         
     
   

Facebook ‘Baby of the Month’ competition

     
     
   

In June we started running a Facebook ‘Baby of the Month’ competition for all Netcells Baby’s between 0-3 months. We have received some stunning photos and there have been some happy winners.


Christoff Lombard
born on 10th September 2014


Adrian Baker
born on 8th September 2014

 
 

If you have not yet entered the competition and your little Netcells Baby is between 0-3 months then please email photos to catherine.brazier@netcells.co.za with the subject line “Baby of the Month competition”.

   
     
         
 

References

 
         
     
   

Netcells Services

     
     
   

Click on a service for more information.

       
     
         
   

 

Best Regards

Catherine Brazier
Marketing and Communications Manager

 

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Netcells Biosciences (Pty) Limited
Reg. No.: 2004/026428/07
International Business Gateway
corner New Road & 6th
Midrand, 1685, Johannesburg
PO Box 1664, Parklands 2121, South Africa
Telephone: +27 (0)11 697 2900
Facsimile: +27 (0)11 697 2901

0861 NETCELLS