Learn. Connect. Discover.
The ViaCord Blog


Preparing For Your Baby With Cord Blood And Tissue Banking
If you're having a baby, there's no doubt you have to prepare and decide before the upcoming debut. It's an exciting time because you have so much to plan for like buying cute clothes and toys, decorating the nursery, picking out a

Are Allergies In Our DNA?
When people think about what their birth month means to them, the first thing that might come to mind is their horoscope and how it indicates certain traits and characteristics like their personality and interests. Now, there's something else to

Benefits of Eating Chocolate During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a beautiful thing – and it's also unquestionably challenging. Your body is going through dramatic changes to bring new life into this world. That's a big deal! The effects of what you do, feel, and eat is far greater when you

Stem Cells In Regenerative Medicine For Arthritis
Pain, stiffness, and swelling are all common feelings people who have arthritis know all too well. Arthritis can make it hard to work, enjoy hobbies, and make even minor everyday activities challenging. Most of us take for granted simple tasks like tying

Journey of Cord Blood Use for Autism
Morey Kraus has over 25 years of executive experience in biotechnology. Since 2007 when PerkinElmer acquired ViaCell, a company he co-founded, Morey has served as the Chief Scientific Officer, Research Director, and Advisor to the Medical Scientific

Allogenic vs. Autologous Stem Cell Transplants
If you know someone who has been treated for a cancer like leukemia or lymphoma, they very well may have been treated with stem cells. Stem cell transplants have come a long way since first being used in 1957. Today, stem cells have become a standard

500 Cord Blood Units Released and Counting
ViaCord has just reached two significant milestones . . . over 500 cord blood units have been released for use in clinical treatments and 100 units have been released for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These are incredible milestones for so many families

How Exercise May Help Reduce Depression
Depression is a widespread health concern that has most likely touched your life in one way or another. The prevalence of it can be heartbreaking, whether it's your well-being at stake, a friend, or a loved one. While depression can impact anyone, some

Exploring Stem Cell Therapy for Congenital Heart Defects
Umbilical cord blood stem cells have been used for years to treat many conditions and diseases that affect the body's blood and immune system. Researchers are committed to treating more conditions including congenital heart defects. We're going to

How Caffeine During Pregnancy Affects Newborn Brain Development
Many people find a cup of coffee in the morning is what they need to jumpstart their day. Some even need a caffeine fix throughout the day to keep their energy levels high. If you're pregnant, you might wonder if it's ok to have coffee or any

Genes That Drive Math & Reading. Are They the Same?
You've heard the argument before. You know the one we're talking about, where you're either great at math and with numbers or a strong reader, but rarely both. Well, it looks like that's an argument you're likely to lose.

Do Genes Determine If You're Left-Handed?
Every day we use our hands to do things, from writing, using utensils to cook and eat, brushing our teeth, waving hello, and more. Have you noticed that when we do these things that we don't stop to think about which hand we use? It comes naturally.

What Is Regenerative Medicine?
Our bodies are capable of doing amazing things, especially when it comes to healing itself. If we break a bone, our body creates new cells to mend the bone back together. When we get a cut, blood platelets form clots to stop the bleeding. Or when we are

April is Autism Awareness Month
Join us this April while we celebrate Autism Awareness Month and help light up the world with kindness! Every April, autism advocates are dedicated to spreading knowledge about it and creating a world where people with autism can reach their full

Helping Prevent Heartburn During Pregnancy
Finding out you're pregnant comes with many expectations, including imagining nine months of glowing skin and a blossoming baby bump. Don't worry; these are still in your future. But like any good journey, you may encounter a few hurdles along