BioBank

The BioBank will provide commercial cell banking services that encompass non-embryonic stem cell cryopreservation, including umbilical cord blood and adult hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) preservation, as well as tumor tissue storage for primary tissue and circulating tumor cells from peripheral blood.

What are hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs)?
A “stem cell” refers to a cell type that is itself undifferentiated and that can give rise to different cell types.  “Hematopoietic” is a term that refers to the formation of blood and blood cells. Cells within the blood include red blood cells (erythrocytes) that carry oxygen to tissues, platelets (from megakaryocytes) that are involved in blood clotting, granulocytes (neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils) and macrophages that fight infections, and lymphocytes. Lymphocytes can be further classified as B-lymphocytes (antibody producing) or T-lymphocytes (which directly kill cells recognized as foreign to the body).  In addition, dendritic cells are part of the hematopoietic lineage; these cells present antigen to T cells, “educating” the lymphocytes.  Thus, the supply of hematopoietic cells in the blood directly depends on hematopoietic stem cells