A growing body of research has helped create new opportunities for children with cerebral palsy and autism. Through Cellaviva’s international network, eligible families may gain access to specialised cord blood therapy programmes. Most families choose to preserve stem cells as a way of preparing for the future. What many do not know is that preserved cord blood may also provide access to treatment opportunities that would otherwise not be available. As part of Europe’s largest family stem cell banking network, Cellaviva is connected to a broad infrastructure of biobanks, partner hospitals, specialised laboratories, treatment centres, and clinical programmes across Europe. Through Cellaviva’s international network, eligible families may gain access to the FamiCord Group Expanded Access Protocol for Cord Blood in Brain Development, a programme designed for children diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who have their own cord blood stored 3. This programme is one of the few initiatives in Europe that enables eligible children to receive treatment with their own preserved cord blood outside traditional clinical trials 3. Expanded Access Programmes provide eligible patients with access to investigational therapies outside traditional clinical trials. These programmes are designed for situations where promising therapies exist, but participation in a clinical trial is not possible or practical. Access is always subject to medical evaluation, regulatory requirements, and programme eligibility criteria. Combining preserved cord blood, clinical expertise, and access to specialised treatment programmes. The programme is specifically designed for children who have their own cord blood preserved and meet the programme’s eligibility criteria. This is an active programme available to eligible families today and represents a real-world application of cord blood research in clinical care. Treatment is performed by specialised physicians within established healthcare institutions and under medical supervision 3. The programme is based on more than two decades of research into the use of cord blood for neurological conditions. Much of this work was pioneered by Professor Joanne Kurtzberg and her team at Duke University, one of the world’s leading centres for cord blood research and transplantation medicine 4. Clinical studies investigating the use of a child’s own cord blood in conditions such as cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorder have helped establish the scientific foundation for programmes that now provide access beyond traditional clinical trials. Today, this research has evolved into real-world treatment opportunities for eligible families. One of the most advanced applications of autologous cord blood research involves cerebral palsy 5. Studies conducted at Duke University demonstrated improvements in motor function among some children receiving their own cord blood, helping generate international interest in this field and contributing to the development of treatment programmes available today 1. For eligible children with preserved cord blood, the Expanded Access Programme may provide an opportunity to access this treatment pathway under medical supervision. Researchers have also investigated the use of autologous cord blood in children with autism spectrum disorder. Clinical studies have demonstrated a favourable safety profile and have provided important insights into how cord blood therapies may be further explored in selected patient groups 2, 6. The Expanded Access Programme includes autism spectrum disorder among the diagnoses currently considered for evaluation 3. The FamiCord Group Expanded Access Protocol for Cord Blood in Brain Development was created to provide eligible children access to cord blood therapy outside conventional clinical trial participation. The programme is intended for children who: Treatment is performed under medical supervision through specialised clinical partners. Most families who preserve cord blood hope to never need it. However, programmes such as the Expanded Access Protocol demonstrate how preserved stem cells may create opportunities that would otherwise not be available. Without preserved cord blood, participation in this programme would not be possible. For many families, this represents one of the clearest examples of how stem cell preservation can move beyond storage and into potential clinical use. For eligible families, the programme provides an opportunity to access an investigational treatment pathway based on years of clinical research and practical experience. This is one of the few programmes in Europe specifically designed for children who have their own cord blood preserved. This is not a theoretical concept. The programme is already operating through clinical partners in Europe and was established specifically to make innovative cord blood therapies accessible to eligible families. The programme is led by Professor Magdalena Chrościńska-Krawczyk, a paediatric neurologist at the University Children’s Hospital in Lublin, one of the participating clinical centres. The Expanded Access Programme is one example of how preserved stem cells may be used in practice. Depending on diagnosis, location, and medical circumstances, Cellaviva may also help families explore: Every situation is unique, and available options vary depending on diagnosis and eligibility requirements. For decades, stem cells have been used in established treatments such as stem cell transplantation. At the same time, researchers around the world have explored whether stem cells may also play a role in conditions beyond traditional transplantation medicine. This research has helped create entirely new areas of regenerative medicine and cell therapy, bringing experimental treatments from the laboratory into carefully controlled clinical programmes and patient care settings. The Expanded Access Protocol for Cord Blood in Brain Development is intended for eligible patients only. Participation depends on diagnosis, stored cord blood quality, cell dose, regulatory requirements, and physician assessment. Treatment cannot be guaranteed and all medical decisions are made by qualified healthcare professionals. If your family has preserved stem cells with Cellaviva and would like to learn more about potential treatment opportunities, our team can help you explore relevant programmes, clinical centres, and available pathways.
Access to emerging therapies
Cord blood therapy programmes for cerebral palsy and autism
Explore cord blood stem cells
A unique opportunity for families with preserved cord blood
What is an Expanded Access Programme?
Why this programme is different
Own cord blood required
Available today
Specialist-led care
From research to real patients
Focus areas:
Cerebral palsy (CP)
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
What is the FamiCord Group Expanded Access Programme?
Why this matters
Built on real clinical experience
Beyond this programme
Expanding the potential of stem cells
Important information
Looking for information about a specific diagnosis?
References
