A New Study at UF Looks at Umbilical Cord Stem Cells to Treat Children with Diabetes

RELEASE DATE: Mar. 10, 2005

Has your child been newly diagnosed
with type 1 diabetes?

Did you bank his/her cord blood?

An exciting new study at the University of Florida is looking at the potential for stem cells from umbilical cord blood to treat new onset type 1 diabetes.

If so, your child may be eligible to participate in this study if:

• they were recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes;
• they are more than 3 years old, and
• you paid to store their umbilical cord blood.

Cord blood must have been stored in an American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) or the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapies (FACT) approved blood bank.

Animal and human studies have shown that stem cells contained in bone marrow and umbilical cord blood can help regenerate damaged tissue. In animals with type 1 diabetes, bone marrow has been used to reduce high blood sugars. The same cells that appear in bone marrow are in even higher concentrations in umbilical cord blood. We believe that giving umbilical cord blood back to children with type 1 diabetes may help them regenerate some insulin producing cells.

There is no cost to you for the cord blood infusion or study associated labs.

This study requires traveling to the University of Florida.
Funding from Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation will reimburse your travel expenses.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

E-mail: Michael J. Haller, M.D.
Pediatric Endocrinology
University of Florida