Dr. James Carroll, professor and chief of pediatric neurology at the Medical College of Georgia, is the principal investigator to determine whether stem cells from stored infant cord blood infused into a child with cerebral palsy can improve the quality of life for the child.  This is the first FDA approved clinical trial, although a variety of cord blood stem cell therapies have been utilized over the last 20 years.  According to Dr. Carroll his “study is breaking new ground in advancing therapies for brain injury-a condition for which there is currently no cure.”

     Parents of children with cerebral palsy, who had their child’s cord blood stored at Cord Blood Registry, should visit its website for more details!  Children eligble for the stud bust be more than 2 years of age, but less than 12 years at the time of screening for eligibility for the study.   Other criteria include clinical evidence of non-progressive motor disability due to brain function; have had their cord blood stored at CBR that meets selection and testing criteria; and seizure free or adequately controlled.  There exists a detailed list of exclusion criteria, and for interested parents, you can view the list at www.clinicaltrials.govand search for “Safety and Effectiveness of Cord BloodStem Cell Infusion fo rthe Treatment of Cerebral Palsy in Children” 

     Cerebral palsy is typically caused by an anoxic- brain injury( lack of oxygen)  prior to birth or at times due to lack of oxygen during the childs very early years.  It can also be the result of trauma causing brain injury.  Symptoms can have a devastating  effect on a child’s cognitive ability, the child’s  ability to move, the child’s ability to learn and develop, as well as the child’s ability to see or hear. Umbilical cord blood is  rich in stem cells.  The hope is that the infused stem cells, which have the ability to evolve into other type of cells in the body, can help injured brain cells recover or even replace dead brain cells.  Dr. Carroll refers to animal studies that demonstrate the ability of infused stem cells to treat brain injury.

     Further information on this groundbreaking study, that may offer some ray of hope to children and their parents, is also available at the medical schools website  www.mcg.edu.  If your child was born with cerebral palsy, the lawyers at Ronaldson and Kuchler are here to help you investigate whether birth delays are the reason why.  We are here to help and provide answers during this difficult time.