Researchers at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta are conducting a clinical trial to find out if stem cells from umbilical cord blood can effectively treat children with cerebral palsy. (image Courtesy MCG)
Researchers say the blood is rich in stem cells, which can become different kinds of cells used to treat a variety of diseases.
Dr. James Carroll is the lead researcher on the FDA-approved study. He says that until now the only information on the treatment’s effects have come from parents' testimonies.
"It’s natural as a parent that the parent wants to see improvement, so we really want to find out if it helps or not," Dr. Carroll says. He continues, "If it doesn’t we would have to be honest and say that it’s not a wise use of the child’s cord blood."
Dr. Carroll says that one child typically produces enough cord blood for only a single treatment.
