AGENDA
​for
​WCBD 2023 ​Virtual Online Conference

Free and open to the public. Livestream and on-demand sessions.

Opening Session LIVESTREAM
from November 15th, 10am EST via Facebook/LinkedIN/Eventbrite

Recommended for ​​students, teachers, parents & healthcare professionals
Colleen Delaney, MD, MSc
Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Welcome & Intro to Cord Blood 
FEATURING Colleen Delaney, MD, MSc 
Affiliate Investigator & Clinical Research Division, Director of the Program in Cord Blood Transplant and Research - Fred Hutch Cancer Center

For our Opening Session this year, we are honoured to welcome Dr. Colleen Delaney from the Fred Hutch Cancer Center for an in-depth interview led by Charis Ober, Executive Director of Save the Cord Foundation (host and organizer of World Cord Blood Day). 

Dr. Delaney is a highly regarded pediatric oncologist and a leading voice in the cord blood movement. She is recognized internationally for pioneering methods to make umbilical cord blood transplants more available and successful worldwide. In particular, Dr. Delaney developed a breakthrough method for multiplying the small number of stem and progenitor cells in each cord blood unit hundreds of times over in the lab. 

In this interview, Dr. Delaney will discuss the fascinating history of cord blood and look at the many ways cord blood is used today. In addition, she will talk about what she sees as the most exciting areas of research using cord blood stem cells and related perinatal cells and tissues.  
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*This session will be livestreamed on Facebook and via Eventbrite.*

FREE - Open to all. Registration on Eventbrite required.

ON-DEMAND SESSIONS
via Eventbrite November 15th - December 15th

​Featured Speakers

Cord Blood and Cord Tissue Therapies for Children

Joanne Kurtzberg, MD
Jerome Harris Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics, Professor of Pathology, Director, Marcus Center for Cellular Cures (MC3), Director, Pediatric Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program, Director, Carolinas Cord Blood Bank at Duke, Co-Director, Duke Hospital Stem Cell Transplant Laboratory

​CuRe Trial: Potential Cure for Spina Bifida,
World 1st Fetal Surgery Using Placental Stem Cells

​Diana L. Farmer, MD
Internationally renowned fetal and neonatal surgeon, Distinguished Professor, Pearl Stamps Stewart Endowed Chair, and Chairperson of the Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis. She is also Chief of Pediatric Surgery at Shriner's Hospitals - Northern California, and Founder and Co-director of the Center for Surgical Bioengineering.

Cord Blood for Cerebral Palsy?
​15 Years of Research Brings Hope

Megan Finch-Edmondson, PhD and Madison Paton, PhD
Research Fellows from the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute - University of Sydney, both focused on regenerative medicine in the treatment of cerebral palsy.

​Cord Blood: Innovations in Cancer Treatment

​Amanda L. Olson, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Stem Cell Transplantation, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX - Oversees clinical research related to cord blood transplant, mesenchymal stem cell manipulation and cellular therapy

Interview with a Cord Blood Transplant Recipient & 2-Time Cancer Survivor

​Azucena Garcia
Meet Coach Garcia! Azucena Garcia is a 2-time cancer survivor. After winning the battle against breast cancer, Azucena tells us about her life-saving double cord blood transplant for Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).