Page 2 – FDA-Regulated Study Of Cord Blood Stem Cells To Treat …

The trial, supported by CBR, follows promising evidence from preclinical studies suggesting that the infusion of human umbilical cord stem cells may help repair damaged cells in the inner ear in ways that could lead to hearing improvement.[iii]

"As more children survive premature birth, we are observing increasing numbers of very young children with significant acquired hearing loss, and currently there are no therapies available for reversing that damage," says Linda Baumgartner M.S., CCC-SLP, LSLS cert. AVT, the trial's Speech and Language Pathologist and hearing loss expert. James Baumgartner, MD, Surgical Director of Florida Hospital for Children's Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Center and the study's principal investigator notes that "presently, the only treatment options for acquired sensorineural hearing loss are hearing aids or cochlear implants, neither of which actually repairs the damage. Using cord blood stem cells to help trigger the body's own repair mechanisms could provide a non-invasive therapeutic option that does not exist today."

During the last 25 years, cord blood stem cells have been used in more than 30,000 transplants performed worldwide for the treatment of nearly 80 serious diseases and disorders in both adults and children. The evolution of stem cell therapies has paved the way for further research being conducted through FDA-regulated clinical trials to uncover their potential in regenerative medicine applications.

"Cord Blood Registry continues to lead the industry in evaluating the potential of newborn stem cells in neurological damage, supporting FDA-regulated clinical trials in autism, cerebral palsy, pediatric stroke, traumatic brain injury, and now hearing loss," underscores Heather Brown, Vice President of Scientific & Medical Affairs at CBR. "We are excited to learn from the outcomes of this particular study and from future studies that may evaluate broader populations affected by hearing loss or other neurological impairments for which there are limited treatment options today," adds Brown.

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