Every day in Singapore, six people are diagnosed with blood related cancers such as lymphoma and leukaemia. More than two-thirds of those diagnosed with these conditions are unable to find a suitable stem cell unit from an adult bone marrow donor. With advancement in medical science today, cellular therapy and transplant treatments using stem cells from cord blood offer patients an alternative and possibly the only hope for a cure. 

Cord blood contains a rich source of blood stem cells known as haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) which have strong regenerative properties. It is collected from the umbilical cord after a baby is born, contains new born stem cells that adapts to any environment, making it ideal for transplantation in cancer patients whose immune systems are already impaired from chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Compared to bone marrow transplants, a cord blood transplant also requires a less stringent matching criterion for the procedure to be successful. The infusion of HSCs, also known as a stem cell transplant, creates a new blood and immune system in patients, enabling them to overcome the disease. In recent years, doctors have found that the benefits of using of cord blood in transplants far exceed that of adult bone marrow.

Because the chances of finding a suitable stem cell match in a sibling are only one in four, a large majority of patients turn to the Singapore Cord Blood Bank (SCBB), Singapore’s only public cord blood bank, in their search for an unrelated stem cell match. Currently, only 40% to 60% of Asian patients who are searching for a stem cell match in cord blood units are successful.

Your gift will enable SCBB to substantially increase the inventory of its cord blood Registry while enabling cord blood units to be processed, tested and stored in accordance with the strictest standards. Your contribution will also fuel the work of SCBB in reaching out to expectant parents to encourage cord blood donation.  

To find out about the life-saving work of SCBB, please click here.

To make a donation towards SCBB, please click here.