Narayana Hrudayalaya Tissue Bank and Stem Cell Research Centre (NHTB-SCRC) which offers mixed cord blood banking to patients has announced a package of Rs 9,900 for its services. The package covers registration, specimen collection, testing, processing and storage for both cord blood and cord tissue. Storage charges have also been priced at a mere Rs. 3500 per year.

This is India’s first hospital-based mixed cord blood banking unit which was opened in March in association with Rotary Bangalore Health City. The stem cell bank at the hospital processes both umbilical cord blood as well as the Wharton’s jelly derived from cord tissue and stores the stem cells obtained from them. “This package is expected to make our services available and affordable by every pregnant mother in India and make sure that each newborn’s future is “Biologically Insured,” said Dr Devi Shetty, chairman, Narayana Hrudayalaya.

Around 200 couples have registered for banking their newborn’s cord blood and cord tissue derived stem cells at the facility from across India. Narayana Hrudayalaya has already performed over 75 stem cell transplants in patients with haematological disorders with excellent success. Some of these therapies have been done using allogenic matched transplants using umbilical cord derived stem cells.

Further, Narayana Hrudayalaya has teamed up with the official couriers of KSRTC for efficient, affordable and secure logistics across Karnataka and its neighbouring states.

The stem cell bank at Narayana Hrudayalaya also has a Public Banking option, where parents-to-be could donate their newborn’s cord blood and tissue that would be used for any deserving patient requiring stem cell therapy. The donation carries no fee for the parents and the stem cell bank would arrange all the necessary systems for an effective collection and storage. Rotary Bangalore Health City is involved in creating awareness about stem cell banking across India.

Cord blood derived stem cells have been successfully converted into iPS cells, cardiomyocytes, nerve cells, cartilage cells and even embryonic cells demonstrating varied and strong potential in regenerative medical therapies.
Cord blood derived stem cells have been used as standard therapy for haematological malignancies and other blood disorders. Over 8000 cord blood transplants have been performed all over the world and nearly 1000 transplants are performed every year. This therapeutic modality is rapidly picking up in the Indian medical scenario as well. A large public stem cell repository would mean availability of this precious biological resource for needy patients, stated Dr Shetty.

The future of stem cell therapies in India is promising with more clinical evidence emerging on the effectiveness of this newer modality in hitherto incurable diseases like heart disease and diabetes. NHTB-SCRC intends to become a leading player in the field of stem cell banking and therapies, said Dr Shetty.