PerkinElmer, Inc., a global leader focused on the health and safety of people and their environment, today announced the extension of a research collaboration between its ViaCord Research Institute™ (VRI™) and The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The collaboration underscores VRI’s commitment to advancing technologies that multiply cord blood stem cells, with the goal of treating more diseases and more adults.

M. D. Anderson is conducting a clinical trial to explore a cord blood expansion technology called “Co-culture.” Cord blood is a valuable, non-controversial source of stem cells with proven effect in treating more than 70 serious diseases, including many cancers. However, today, the quantity of stem cells available in a single umbilical cord blood unit is often not sufficient to treat adult patients. Cord blood expansion technologies, such as Co-culture, may make it possible to use these stem cells to treat even more patients by increasing the total number of stem cells available from a single cord blood unit.

The trial is being led by Elizabeth J. Shpall, MD, professor of stem cell transplantation and medical director of the Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Center at M.D. Anderson. The trial seeks to determine whether the use of “Co-culture” will be safe and result in more rapid engraftment in adults receiving cord blood transplants.

“We are honored to partner with M. D. Anderson on this important initiative,” said Morey Kraus, chairman, Medical Scientific Advisory Board, ViaCord Research Institute. “The collective goal of VRI’s research initiatives is to expand the current uses of cord blood stem cells so they may treat more patients and more diseases in the future. The research being conducted by Dr. Shpall is key to unlocking the full therapeutic promise of umbilical cord stem cells by increasing the total number of cells available from a single cord blood unit.”

Based on the results of this trial, ViaCord, PerkinElmer’s cord blood banking business, and M.D. Anderson will determine the feasibility of using Unrestricted Somatic Stem Cells (USSCs) derived from cord blood in the Co-culture of cord blood units for transplantation. USSCs, proprietary to ViaCord (patent pending #09/985,335), are a type of stem cell found in umbilical cord blood, which have the ability to differentiate into many cell types, including endothelial cells, fat, bone, cartilage and neuronal cells.