Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland's scientists have discovered a new source for stem cells - a woman's placenta. Not only that, there is an abundance of viable stem cells in human placenta and we can extract them for transplantation. The hope is we'll be able to cure even more children with chronic blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and leukemia. The study, led by Vladimir Serikov, MD, PhD, and senior scientist, Frans Kuypers, PhD, is published in the July 2009 issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine.
