Tampa, FL (PRWEB) January 06, 2015

One million Americans experience acute myocardial infarctions, commonly known as a heart attack, each year and of those, approximately 300,000 to 500,000 individuals develop heart failure. A heart attack occurs when blood stops flowing properly to a part of the heart and the heart muscle is injured and can die because it is not receiving enough oxygen.

Cryo-Cell International has agreed to provide the Center with cord blood collections that have previously been donated to Cryo-Cell International by parents and designated for research use to advance regenerative medicine. These cord blood collections will allow the Centers scientists to continue to investigate the mechanisms whereby stem cells can be beneficial in limiting damage from heart attacks. A team at the Center, led by researcher and cardiology specialist, Robert J. Henning, M.D., has demonstrated in research animals that stem cells obtained from human umbilical cord blood can release a large number of biologically active growth factors and anti-inflammatory chemicals that can limit the substantial heart inflammation, cell injury and cell destruction that occurs with acute heart attacks, significantly reducing the effects of heart attacks, even when administered up to 24 hours after the heart attack.

We are making good progress in our studies thanks to the cord blood stem cells contributed by Cryo-Cell International, reports Henning.

Cryo-Cell International and others have demonstrated that human umbilical cord blood stem cells can be preserved for more than 20 years without loss of cell viability or potency. Consequently, parents who have the foresight to use cord blood banking services upon their babys birth can potentially use these cord blood stem cells years later to provide a regenerative treatment for a family member if an acute heart attack occurs. The Centers scientists hope to bring umbilical cord blood stem cell therapy to the treatment of patients who have experienced heart attacks within the next five years.

Heart disease is still the number one leading cause of death in the United States. We feel very fortunate that we can provide a valuable and consistent source of cord blood banked stem cells to the Center for Cardiovascular Research, said David Portnoy, Chairman and Co-CEO of Cryo-Cell International.

About Cryo-Cell International

Founded in 1989, Cryo-Cell International, Inc. is the world's first and most highly accredited private cord blood bank. More than 500,000 parents from 87 countries trust Cryo-Cell International to preserve their family members' stem cells. Cryo-Cell International's mission is to provide clients with state-of-the-art stem cell cryopreservation services and support the advancement of regenerative medicine. Cryo-Cell International operates in a facility that is FDA registered, cGMP-/cGTP-compliant and is licensed in all states requiring licensure. In addition to earning AABB accreditation for cord blood banking, Cryo-Cell International is also the first U.S. (for private use only) cord blood bank to receive FACT accreditation for voluntarily adhering to the most stringent cord blood quality standards set by any internationally recognized, independent accrediting organization. Cryo-Cell International is ISO 9001:2008 certified by BSI, an internationally recognized, quality assessment organization. Cryo-Cell International is a publicly traded company, OTCQB: CCEL. For more information, please visit http://www.Cryo-Cell.com.

About the University of South Florida Center for Cardiovascular Research

The University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicines Cardiovascular Services Research Unit has been in existence for almost 20 years and evaluates pharmacotherapeutic agents and the latest treatment and devices for cardiovascular disease.

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Cord Blood Banking Leader, Cryo-Cell International, Continues to Support the Advancement of Regenerative Medicine