Doctors in Columbia recently performed a procedure using Cord Blood stem cells to treat cleft lip and palate in a 5-month old baby. Although still in the experimental stage, these stem cells have the potential to lead to a therapy that can treat this genetic condition without traditional surgery which can lead to complications later on in a child’s life. Using the umbilical cord stem cells means there is a greater chance of developing many specialized cells in the body, including bone and cartilage.
Learn more about current treatment and the many clinical trials underway.