Cord blood was originally identified as a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells, and an alternative to bone marrow for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in 1988. Since then, it has been used extensively for this purpose, but it has also emerged as an important source of hematopoietic cells both for the study of human haemopoiesis, as well as the development of novel therapy treatments. In an era of massive change in treatment modalities, many based on cell therapies, finding sources of cells which pose no harm to the donor and are readily available has increased the interest in understanding the biology of cord blood cells and how they can be best utilized for the manufacture of off the shelf therapies for the treatment not only of haematological disease, but also a myriad of other conditions.
The purpose of this Research Topic is to bring together the latest developments in cord blood research which have an impact both in the understanding of human developmental haemopoiesis and in the development of novel cell therapies for the treatment of disease, not only in oncology but in other disease areas. As more cell therapies become mainstream, there is an urgent need to both have a better understanding of the cells that make the raw materials for these therapies, and to find the safest and most accessible sources of these valuable starting cells.
All articles which explore the unique properties of birthing tissues, such as cord blood, are welcome. Topics of interest include but are not limited to:
• The role of cord blood (CB) in elucidating mechanisms of hematopoietic development
• The role of cord blood in elucidating pathogenesis of blood disorders
• Unique properties of CB cells which give them special advantages over adult cells
o For studying hematopoietic cell characteristics and ontogeny
o For use as starting materials for clinical development
• Utilization of cord blood/tissue to isolate materials to develop cell therapies (T-cells, NK cells, MSCs)
• Use of CB plasma and placental tissues for therapy development
• Barriers to using birthing tissues for research and development
Keywords: hemotopoietic stem cells, umbilical cord blood
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
