Until recently, the umbilical cords from newborns were typically discarded after cutting the cord. But now, parents can choose to donate their infant's cord – at no cost to the parents – in the hope of saving the life of someone with cancer.

At the University of Massachusetts Medical Center (UNMC), growing medical evidence has determined that the blood from umbilical cords is a rich and effective source of transplantable stem cells (www.stem-cell.com), and in some ways a preferable alternative to bone marrow. Blood from the umbilical cord can be readily extracted in a simple, non-invasive procedure that takes one to three minutes and doesn't interfere with the normal delivery process. UNMC recently began operation of New England's first nonprofit umbilical cord blood bank.

Cord blood is collected with advance parental permission and in cooperation with physicians and nurse-midwives at participating hospitals. The cord blood units are transported to UNMC, where they are processed, stored and made available worldwide for transplantation into patients with cancer and blood diseases.

Dr. Karen K. Ballen, assistant professor of medicine and director of UNMC's Cord Blood Program, says about 9,000 transplant candidates – a third of them children – die each year before a suitably matched bone marrow donor is found. She says the availability of cord blood will greatly improve the chances of locating a good match for patients who need a life-saving transplant. For more information, call 508-756-3076.

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