Stem Cell Banks

Storing the new born baby's stems cells for a period of 21 years in stem cell banks is the latest trend to fight diseases in the family.It is a guarantee for the family against a host of diseases.But the cost of storing the stem cells is porhibitive and beyond the reach of an ordinary person.This is a kind of 'Bio insurance'.But it is an undeniable fact there is a mushroom growth of stem cell banks in the recent past in India.The government should come forward to start 'stem cell banks' in government hospitals,at least in important district headquarters and make it available to the general public at affordable prices.An awareness campaign should also be started to make the general public to opt for stem cell storage in their own interest.The collected stem cells are preserved at -195 degree at stem cell banks.The donor and his immediate family members can access it any time for stem cell therapy.The normal storage period is 21 years.But longer period storage is also possible on payment of extra fees.
Stem cell therapy is all about injecting new cells in to the body to repair damaged or diseased tissues to cure a host of dieases.The most remarkable advantage of stem cell therapy is that there is no risk of rejection by the body.As on date,it is believed stem cell therapy can cure more than 75 diseases,and many more might get added to the list in the future.This has given hope to many patients smitten by chronic diseases.Hence there is a great demand for stem cell storage .The stored stem cell culture would be used at a future date to regenerate damaged or diseased cells in the body and thus relieve patients from incurable diseases.
The most unique property of a stem cell is that they are capable of renewing themselves for a considerably long period.Stem cells per se are unspecialised.But they can develop as a specialised cell type such as heart muscles,blood cells or nerve cells.Stem cells can be collected from different sources.The potential of a stem cell depends on the source from where it is collected.The different types of stems cell sources are given below.

Embryonic stem cells

These cells are derived from an early stage human embryo approximatley 4 to 5 days old.They have the potential to develop in to more than 200 types of cells.(There is an ethical and moral outcry against this source)

Foetal stem cells

These are stem cell types found in the organs of the foetus. (This is also opposed by many, as it tantamounts to killing )

Adult Stem Cells

These are stem cells found in the developed organism.Adult stem cells are referred to by their tissue origin.Adult stem cells were used for many years to treat early stage bone/blood cancer by bone marrow transplants.(Bone marrows contain stem cells)A person known to me,who was in early stages of bone cancer was completley cured by bone marrow transplant in late 70's at Adyar Cancer hospital,Chennai.

Peripheral Blood

Peripheral blood cells are the cellular components of blood like RBC,WBC and Platelets.These are stem cells.

Bone marrows

Bone marrows are tissues inside the hollow cavities of bones.The bone marrow stroma contains stem cells.

Umblical cord Blood

Umblical cord blood is the left over blood of placenta and cord after the birth of the baby.This blood is a rich source of stem cells. Until recently cord blood and umblical cords were thrown as a bio medical waste.But stem cells in cord blood can be used to treat 75 life threatening diseases .

The harvested cord blood is stored and preserved for future use of the child and its family for the tratment of a host of diseases.Cord blood stem cells are preferred over bone marrow stem cells because bone marow stem cell requires a surgical procedure.It could be painful and risky to the donor.Cord blood stem cells have other advantages like lesser chances of infection,quick and easy transplantion .The biggest advantage of cord blood is that it need not match the patient's tissue type precisely.
The donor of the cord blood stem cells can decide whther it is to be used entirely for his/her family or for the general public. This can be conveyed to the stem cell bank at the time of donating the cord blood.One can also donate cord blood for research purposes.Umblical cord blood collection is safe for the mother and the child and is the most preferred stem cell source by the doctors.
India's first stem cell bank was started in Chennai by Asia Cyro cell.Other leading stem cell Banks in India are Life Cell and Cyrobank .The latter has a country wide network in almost all major cities of India.Most of the cord blood harvesting centres collect blood from the hospital where the baby is delivered,if registered with the bank well in advance.Some of the stem cell banks have different payment options.
The government should accredit Blood Banks attached to Government hospitals to collect cord blood samples and preserve them at affordable prices for private as awell as general public use.This could go a long way in alleviating the suffering lot.Government should consider giving subsidy to Government Blood banks collecting stem cells and thus make it affordable to the common man.