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According to the public relation, the new products and achievements introduced through this ceremony included the first storage tank domestically manufactured, amniotic membrane bandage, cord tissue banking, cord blood serum and smart temperature cooling system.

Royan Stem Cell Technology Company (RSCT) was founded in 2005 to collect, process and cryopreserve cord blood stem cells of new born babies. Taking advantage of its hybrid character, so far, RSCT has stored more than 180,000 cord blood units in its both public and private banks. Through its nationwide network and 32 representatives around the country and observing all the latest international standards and criteria coming along close cooperation with transplantation centers in the country, RSCT has taken constructive steps toward chronic diseases treatment, saving people lives, increasing life expectancy among the nation and creating a profitable revenue for the country.

Cord Blood Storage at -196 ⁰ C

During this ceremony, Managing Director of RSCT, Dr.Morteza Zarrabi stated that umbilical cord blood is a rich source in stem cells which can be applied in treatment of diseases used to be thought as incurable ones. Pointing to this fact that cord blood contains 80 to 200 ml of blood which should be collected in 5 to 7 minutes through delivery process, emphasized that the samples collected are carried to Royan Cord Blood Bank facility to be processed and stored in liquid nitrogen tanks. He continued to say that the stem cells of cord blood are extracted and stored in -196 degree.

Stating that the samples are stored either in public or private banks, Dr.Zarrabi said:” Right now, there are about 5100 cord blood units stored in our community bank and 181,000 ones in our private sector. That is why RSCT is known as a hybrid bank. RSCT has got 45 offices in all provinces which can store the samples in each sector separately.”

Managing Director of RSCT went on saying that according to the number of cord blood units stored at RSCT, this is the biggest cord blood facility in Western Asia and some provinces have made great progresses in the number of cord blood stored by their representatives among which we can refer to Khorasan Razavi, Isfahan, Khoozestan, Fars, East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Kerman, Hamedan, Alborz and Kermanshah.

Referring to the samples stored gender, he said 55% of samples goes to the boy babies while 45% of them goes to girl babies. It was also stated that 17% of samples come from normal delivery and 83% comes from caesarean

Regarding the application of cord blood stem cells, Dr.Zarrabi said:” Cord blood stem cells are applied in treating more than 80 types of diseases originating in blood or other sources. However, the most current applications of cord blood stem cells are concerned with curing some diseases such as thalassemia, types of blood cancer, immune system deficiency and congenital anemia.

Going on in his speech, Dr.Zarrabi announced the establishment of refinery plant of maternity products which is going to be launched in Pardis Technology Park.

Treatment of incurable diseases applying cord blood stem cells

Considering the transplantation performed taking advantage of cord blood stem cells, Managing Director of RSCT said:” 31 patients suffering from blood diseases (thalassemia, blood cancer, immunology system deficiency and Anemia Aplasty), 55 cerebral palsy cases and 5 autism patients have been cured by cord blood stem cells.” He also added that more than 400 clinical trials applying cord blood stem cells are under the way all around the world for both children and adults among which we can refer to some diseases such as cerebral palsy, autism, new born heart failure, SMS, diabetes, brain stroke, Alzheimer, asphyxia, MS, Parkinson, arteries, cord harms, artrit rheumatoid and heart stroke. He also pointed to some clinical trials starting last year for Cerebral palsy (starting phase 3 last year) and autism and Arteries YLS (starting last year) in country.

Among other achievements publicized through the ceremony, Dr.Zarrabi pointed to: A) amniotic membrane bandage which is used rich in protein and growth factor and is used for tissue regenerating. B) Cord tissue which is full of mesenchymal stem cells applying for diseases originating from other sources and does not need to observe HLA typing tests C) cord blood serum which is extracted from cord blood and has got both research and treatment potentials. This serum is the animal one and is easily compatible with culture media, D) cord blood and biological samples are so sensitive to temperature fluctuations and keeping the such products in a stable temperature is so vital. Smart temperature control system is another achievement made to keep the temperature of such biological products fixed and hence transferring of such products will be conducted in ease and full safety.

Royan International Twin Congress (Reproductive Biomedicine and Stem Cells Biology & Technology) has demonstrated to be one of the most successful experiences of scientific gathering in Iran and the Middle East since 2000. During these twenty years of active involvement in sharing and exchanging scientific knowledge and expertise with renowned scientific institutes and scientists, Royan Congress has helped to form many shared scientific projects and exchanges. After the successful experience of the 22nd Royan International Virtual Congress (2021), Royan Congress intends to hold its 23rd Congress while celebrating these twenty years of experiences as the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the model of face-to-face meetings all around the world. To adapt to the current situation, the Royan Congress Scientific and Executive Board of Director decided to transform the 23rd Royan International Congress into a hybrid meeting that combines “live” sessions with an “online” component from 7-9 September, 2022. Royan International Hybrid Congress (18th Congress on Stem Cell Biology & Technology), and (23rd Congress on Reproductive Biomedicine), 7-9 September 2022. This year, Royan International Hybrid Congress's main objective is to preserve and enhance the connections of researchers and practitioners from all over the world despite Covid 19 pandemic. The Hybrid Congress will cover main topics through highly scientific & extremely innovative online sessions. We have the pleasure of extending our sincere welcome to you to attend Royan International Twin Congress, the 18th Congress on Stem Cell Biology and Technology, and 23rd Congress on Reproductive Biomedicine, which definitely will be a memorable occasion for developing a lifelong friendship in the coming years.

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According to public relation, Dr.Morteza Zarrabi, Managing Director of Royan Stem Cell Technology Company (RSCT), through a media meeting held this Monday stated that amniotic membrane product development is among the plans we have already had under the way.

Remarking this fact that stem cells knowledge is customized in our country including more than four categories, he stated:” stem cells colleting from various resources, differentiating the stem cells into other form of specific cells such as heart, nerve systems and so forth, stem cells applications in different malignancies originated in blood or other reasons and cryopreserving the stem cells for more than 20 to 30 years are among such achievements.

Stating this fact that Iran is among the first 5 top countries enjoying the knowledge of stem cells, Dr.Zarrabi added: “Preventing stem cells throwing away and cryopreserving and exporting them can lead to financial exchange for country.”

“There are more than 180,000 units cryopreserved with RSCT which first and the biggest stem cells capability in the Middle East.” he continued saying that there are about 35 samples cryopreserved with RSCT dispatched from Bushehr province.

Having launched the blood donation bank in Bushehr in 2018, about 1500 cord blood stem cells units have been cryopreserved with private sector of RSCT.

Manager of Royan Stem Cell Technology Company added that an average of 30 cord blood samples is stored at RSCT monthly; however, this rate can find an increasing trend in the whole province.

He also stated that RSCT has got its offices and branches all around the country and two more in Iraq and Oman which cause an increasing rate in cord blood collection procedure.

Dr.Zarrabi. as a member of Royan Scientific Board, considered Iran as the biggest Cord Blood Stem Cell Bank in the Middle East, pointing the units cryopreserved with RSCT from other countries such as Turkey, Romania, Oman, Emirates and England.

According to Mehr news agency, cord blood stem cells of infants can be applied in treatment of more than 80 diseases particularly those with blood origins including thalassemia, blood cancers, immune system failure and congenital anemia.

Stating this fact that research is on the way to exploit other delivery products such as cord blood tissue, amniotic membrane and amniotic fluid, Dr.Zarrabi said that amniotic membrane can be applied as a bandage for burn or diabetic wounds and amniotic fluid is so helpful for cartilage hurts among athlets.