GC Cell holds commemorative event to raise awareness of umbilical cord blood importance on 'World Cord Blood Day'

GC Cell announced on the 17th that it held a commemorative event for the ‘2023 World Cord Blood Day’ at the GC Cell Cell Center.

GC Cell logo [Photo by GC Cell]

This event was organized to share comprehensive knowledge about cord blood and to foster a healthy social culture regarding cord blood storage. GC Cell invited medical professionals and general visitors to participate in a tour program of the cord blood storage facilities.

November 15th every year is designated as ‘World Cord Blood Day’ to create a social atmosphere that overcomes diseases through cord blood and cares for and protects patients. It began in the United States in 2017 and was first held in Korea by GC Cell’s cord blood bank in 2019.

GC Cell, a family company of GC Green Cross, has established essential cell freezing technology and storage systems necessary for the mass production and supply of natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapies and stem cell therapies through continuous research on cord blood and stem cells since founding its cord blood bank in 2003. It also has a specimen testing system for cord blood quality inspection and a nationwide bio-logistics system capable of transportation, earning steady trust from prospective parents in Korea.

Cord blood transplantation was first successfully performed worldwide by Dr. Eliane Gluckman in France in 1988, and since then, more than 40,000 people worldwide have benefited. Today, cord blood is used to treat over 80 intractable diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia, and thalassemia. With ongoing research in regenerative medicine, it is expected that soon it will be possible to treat autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury, type 1 diabetes, and stroke. However, due to a lack of information sharing and awareness about the functions and benefits of cord blood among prospective parents, many cases result in cord blood being discarded as medical waste during the birth process.

Cho Hyun-chan, Head of GC Cell’s Cord Blood Bank (specialist), said, “If precious medical resources like cord blood are not discarded but properly stored, they can help ensure a healthy life for newborns and their families in the future,” adding, “We will continue active promotional activities to convey the value of cord blood storage to prospective parents and encourage them to take action.”