With the potential for self-renewal and differentiation, the possibilities for stem cells are enormous. One specific type of stem cell, the hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC), which is derived from umbilical cord blood (as well as adult bone marrow and mobilized peripheral blood), holds particular promise. To make the most of these HPCs, the Institute of Medicine was asked to consider the optimal structure for a national cord blood program and to address pertinent issues related to maximizing the potential of stem cell technology. Cord Blood: Establishing a National Hematopoietic Stem Cell Bank Program examines:

• The role of cord blood in ... Read morestem cell transplantation
• The current status of blood banks already in existence
• The optimal structure for the cord blood program
• The current use and utility of cord blood for stem cell transplants
• The best way to advance the use of cord blood units and make them available for research

Expert advice from leaders in the fields of economics, public health, medicine, and biostatistics combine to make this very timely and topical book useful to a number of stakeholders.

• Front Matter
• Executive Summary
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
• 3 Research
• 4 Umbilical Cord Blood Banks and Banking
• 5 Ethical and Legal Issues
• 6 Inventory of a National Cord Blood Stem Cell Bank Program
• 7 Recommended Structure of a National Program
• Appendix A: Methods Section: Data Collection and Analysis
• Appendix B: Survey
• Appendix C: Survey Results
• Appendix D: Potential Nonhematopoietic Uses for Stem Cells in Cord Blood
• Appendix E: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Increasing Cord Blood Inventory Levels
• Appendix F: HLA Overview
• Appendix G: Analysis of the NYBC, NMDP, and NHLBI Cord Blood Data
• Appendix H: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members and Staff
• Acronyms
• Glossary
• Index