U of M to start collecting umbilical cord blood donations

New mothers could soon donate umbilical cord blood for medical research if a pending agreement between the University of Minnesota and the St. Louis Cord Blood Bank is finalized.

The lack of local donations, used to fight cancers and rebuild immune systems, hasn't prevented Minnesotans from getting the transplants they need, but it does hurt the university's research capability.

"Fact is, this is the world's largest cord blood transplant program," Dr. Jeff McCullough, a U pathologist and specialist in transfusion medicine, told the Star Tribune. "To not even be collecting here for potential transplants? We should be able to do better than that."

McCullough joins The Daily Circuit to discuss cord blood donations and potential research opportunities.

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