Infantile cerebral palsy – Convincing evidence for the use of perinatal stem cells

Leipzig, July 15, 2025 – Cerebral palsy (CP) continues to be one of the most common motor disabilities in childhood and is associated with permanent movement restrictions and spasticity. The therapeutic potential of stem cells from umbilical cord blood and tissue was discussed at the 37th Annual Meeting of the European Academy Of Childhood-onset Disabilities (EACD) and the 4th Meeting of the International Alliance of Academies of C hildhood Disability (IAACD) from June 24 – 28, 2025 in Heidelberg. As part of a symposium supported by FamiCord AG, international experts presented the current state of research and reported on the results from clinical practice.

Clear recommendation for the use of umbilical cord blood in CP

In her presentation, Prof. Iona Novak from the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney emphasized the heterogeneous composition of umbilical cord blood (CB). The properties, mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential of CB is correspondingly diverse – also for use in neurological disorders in children. Their systematic review of the current evidence for strategies for the prevention and treatment of CP showed a clearly positive result for the use of CB.¹ Promising results were also achieved with the use of cell products from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which can be obtained from umbilical cord tissue, with the anti-inflammatory effect of MSCs taking center stage.^{(1) “}We need more studies that not only look at the motor functions of patients, but also consider the improvement of cognition, concentration and communication skills in order to further explore the potential of different stem cell populations from umbilical cord blood and tissue,” Prof. Novak concluded.

Monocytes from CB can stimulate healing processes in the brain

Prof. Joanne Kurtzberg from the Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, USA, then gave an overview of her diverse clinical studies on the use of perinatal tissues in various neuronal disorders – including CP, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). “Monocytes derived from  CB can cross the blood-brain barrier and promote healing processes through paracrine signaling,” Prof. Kurtzberg explained. a randomized placebo-controlled study of 63 patients with CP aged 1-6 years demonstrated that the administration of ≥ 2 x 10⁷ Total Nucleated Cell Count (TNCC) 12 months after treatment can significantly improve motor function.² The improvement of the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66) score by a median of 4.3 points was associated with a significant increase in normalized whole brain connectivity.²

Treatment with autologous CB improves quality of life in CP

Prof. Magdalena Chrościńska-Krawczyk , Head of the Pediatric Neurology Clinic at the University Children’s Hospital in Lublin, Poland, presented the case showing the effect of cell therapy  from CB and umbilical cord tissue under real-world conditions.^3,4 She reported the case of a 2-year-old male patient with CP who was treated with autologous CB twice at 2-month intervals (TNCC: 28.5 x 10⁷ and 114.1 x 10⁷⁾ .⁴ The treatment was well tolerated and no adverse effects were reported during the 12-month follow-up period. As a result of the therapy, the boy’s hemiparesis symptoms improved, especially the function of the left hand, and there was better control of posture. In addition, the patient showed a significant improvement in cognitive function and a sudden increase in speech ability.^{(4) “}The effect of treatment with autologous CB is very individual, and its influence on the quality of life of those affected and their relatives is often immense,” Prof. Chrościńska-Krawczyk emphasized in conclusion.

Four key factors for the effectiveness of treatment with CB

The three experts agreed that the success of therapy with CB depends largely on the age of the child, the degree of impairment and the TNCC in the CB.^{(2) (,3)}The earlier treatment is initiated and the more cells are available, the more promising the therapy.^{(2,3) “}Patients who are expected to learn to walk in the course of their development benefit particularly from the therapy,” added Prof. Novak. The basic prerequisite is the availability of CB. The storage of CB for autologous use can therefore be regarded as a special precautionary measure.

About Vita 34

Vita 34 is a brand of FamiCord AG. FamiCord AG is a Leipzig-based company founded in 1997 and is the leading stem cell bank in Europe and the third largest worldwide. Driven by the guiding principle of enabling a healthier future for all people, FamiCord AG is a full-service provider with around 800 employees worldwide, providing all services related to preventive healthcare with umbilical cord blood and tissue. FamiCord provided therapeutic cells for treatment for over 7,000 patients wordwide.

Sources:
1. Novak I et al. Curr Neurol. Neurosci Rep. 2020;20(2):3.
2. Sun JM et al. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2017;6(12):207-2078.
3. Chrościńska-Krawczyk M et al. Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2024;20(6):1636-1649.
4. Case study presented by Chrościńska-Krawczyk M. at EACD & IAACD 2025, Heidelberg. Data ahead of publication.