BioE [St. Paul, MN] has developed a processing system, called PrepaCyte-CB, that separates the stem cells from umbilical cord blood. It is expected to become the first FDA-compliant cell-separation product and first available on the market by early 2005.
Blood from the umbilical cord is rich in stem cells, which have the potential to develop into many different cell types in the body.
Use of umbilical cord stem cells is ethical and does not use or destroy human embryos.
BioE and lead neurologist, Dr. Leslie Weiner, have a research agreement with the Univ of Southern CA, where Weiner is chair in Neurology at the Universitys Keck School of Medicine. [Minneapolis Star Tribune, 23Mar04; HLA Action News, Spring 2004]