Blood from the umbilical cord may be able to prevent or delay the onset of type 1 diabetes in children at high risk of the disease, researchers in Australia claim.
Rich in unique immune cells, cord blood has a already been shown to be useful for treating medical conditions such as leukaemia, and now experts at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in Sydney believe its disease-tackling benefits could extend to type 1, or insulin-dependant, diabetes.
To assess the blood’s potential anti-diabetic role, the researchers will conduct a world-first clinical study that will involve injecting regulatory T cells from the patient’s own umbilical cord blood – collected at birth and stored in a private cord blood bank – back into their pancreas .
They hope that the cells will be able to stop the autoimmune process which leads to the destruction of the pancreatic insulin-producing beta cells.

Associate Professor Maria Craig, a paediatric endocrinologist at the hospital, said: “A number of animal studies have shown that infusion of regulatory T-cells from cord blood actually does prevent type 1 diabetes. So there’s a very strong scientific basis for undertaking the study.”
“Research is only just starting to unlock the potential for cord blood, with its potent mix of valuable cells, to help manage a variety of disease states.
Around 20 children aged one to 12 years whose cord blood has been stored and who have a close relative with type 1 diabetes will take part in the study, which the researchers hope will be the “first of many” to investigate this novel approach.

Get our free newsletters

Stay up to date with the latest news, research and breakthroughs.

You May Also Like

Twice daily dairy intakes could reduce type 2 diabetes risk

Eating cheese, yoghurt or eggs twice a day could help lower the…

Conversation about doctors’ appointments occurring virtually rumbles on

More than half of GP appointments are still being delivered remotely in…

Top diabetes professor drafts risk assessment document for frontline COVID-19 staff

The health and wellbeing of frontline NHS staff has been prioritised among…