Dr. Peter Emanuel, chief of the Winthrop Rockefeller Cancer Institute and a speaker at the Cord Blood Bank of Arkansas' luncheon July 15 at the Governor's Mansion, hit on it right away -- there's no way to discuss cord blood over lunch.
Those approximately 150 or so folks who filled the Grand Hall then proceeded to talk about cord blood over lunch.
Cord blood is the stem cell-rich blood captured from the umbilical cords of newly born babies. It's neither the controversial embryonic stem cells, Emanuel pointed out, nor adult stem cells, but like embryonic stem cells (and unlike adult stem cells), those harvested from cord blood are particularly versatile and life saving in much the same way bone marrow is, and for the same ailments, most famously leukemia, the blood cancer.
Immediately after birth, the umbilical cord and placenta historically have been treated like trash, Emanuel said. "Now we know that we can harvest this cord blood without any harm to the babies" and use its vital stem cells to cure leukemia.
Lunch was as inviting a repast as could be had with the topic on the table: a tart Caesar salad with grilled chicken and a creme brulee dessert.
The keynote address was given by Dr. Samantha McKelvey Teeter, who more than a decade ago was an obstetric resident when she was diagnosed with leukemia. She found an exact bone marrow match with a U.S. serviceman stationed in Iraq, and twice he donated. McKelvey Teeter said it's "a miracle" she's here today, practicing obstetrics, and still there is an easier way.
"It saddens me that the great majority of life-saving cord blood is discarded while people lie waiting for a transplant."
The blood bank at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences stores public donations (parents who choose to donate anonymously) and private ones (stored at a price for use by the family, if ever necessary).
High Profile on 07/27/2014