What are the uses of umbilical cord blood?

Cord blood is the blood collected from the umbilical cord after a newborn's birth, which is rich in hematopoietic stem cells. These stem cells have the ability to self-replicate and differentiate into various types of blood cells, giving cord blood the following significant medical applications: 1. **Stem Cell Transplantation:** Hematopoietic stem cells from cord blood can be used to treat various hematologic disorders, including malignant tumors such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, as well as inherited anemias (e.g., thalassemia), immune deficiency disorders, and certain metabolic diseases. 2. **Research and Development of New Therapies:** Scientists use cord blood stem cells for basic research and to explore new treatment methods, such as studies related to neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease) and tissue injury repair. 3. **Family Banking:** If stored in a hospital, cord blood can serve as a biological resource for future potential use by family members, especially for families with a risk of genetic diseases. 4. **Public Donation:** Samples donated to public cord blood banks can be used globally for patient HLA matching, increasing the chances for patients with rare blood types to find suitable stem cell sources. However, not all diseases can be treated with cord blood, and the use of autologous cord blood is relatively limited.