Transplantation and Research: Umbilical Cord Blood

Course overview

In 1992, the first successful stem cell transplant was performed using umbilical cord blood (UCB) instead of bone marrow in a patient with leukemia. Since then, over 100,000 stem cell transplants have been performed using stem cells from cord blood (Health Resources & Services Administration [HRSA], 2022a). Thousands of Americans, many of them children, die each year waiting for a stem cell transplant. Transplantation using stem cells from UCB can reduce the number of those who are waiting. With proper counseling, parents can make informed decisions regarding cord blood donation. The goal of this educational program is to provide nurses in acute healthcare settings with clinical knowledge about the collection, uses, and advantages of UCB stem cells.