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Georgina Russell from Preston, near Manchester in the UK, was four months pregnant when she received the terrible news that her older brother, Ashley, had a rare, slow-growing form of the brain tumor, glioblastoma.
 Glioblastoma is associated with a wide range of commonly occurring symptoms, such as headaches and nausea. For this reason it can take a long time for sufferers to recognize the seriousness of their condition. Ashley had been suffering with vague symptoms for months before changes to his co-ordination and vision prompted him to seek medical advice. Having confirmed glioblastoma with MRI images, Ashley’s doctors estimated that he had just five years to live.
 Ashley is 34 years old and worked for the Royal Navy until his diagnosis in August 2017. He and his wife have a daughter, Alexis, who has recently turned two. "She’s so like her Dad,” says Georgina, “Ashley’s always been a family man. At least now he has his family around him and he’s able to spend time with his daughter. That’s the best thing for him really." 
Determined to help her brother in any way possible, Georgina spent the days following his diagnosis researching his condition and emerging treatments. Then, late one night she made the discovery that could save Ashley’s life. "I knew that the placenta was nutritional and could help the recovery of the body," says Georgina "and I thought, what a shame for that to go in the bin. Then my cousin sent me a link to a story about breast milk being healing and used to fight infection. This was interesting, but it wasn’t enough. I started typing things in and eventually came across a site that mentioned umbilical cord blood. I thought, oh my goodness! Doctors are using stem cells from the cord to treat different cancers!"
 "I was reading this and thinking, I've got this cure inside me right now!" 
 
Georgina was shocked to learn that cord blood stem cells have been used in over 40,000 transplants to treat over 80 diseases of the blood and immune system, and yet no one she knew had heard of cord blood storage. "It should become a part of our education." She says, "It’s so important. In schools and childbirth clinics people need to know that their child or a member of the family might need these cells. This is Ashley’s life. A life that’s ending far too early." 
The next day, Georgina compared umbilical cord blood banks in the UK and spoke to Nikki at Biovault Family. Nikki talked her through the unique properties of umbilical cord blood and the process of collection and storage. “I realized, this could be it," Georgina says, "with Ashley being my brother there would be a good chance of a match." 
Feeling reassured that the family had a plan, Georgina tried to carry on as normal. Then, six weeks early and in the middle of a theatrical performance of Sister Act, Georgina’s waters broke. "I was at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool" Georgina says, "and I felt a gush. I stood up and ran to the toilets. Luckily a retired midwife had spotted me and saw that I was bleeding. My partner rushed us in a taxi to the hospital where they did a scan and discovered a dark line between the womb and placenta. I had clots and had been bleeding for a long time. After two days in hospital I was taken for a C-section." 
Despite everything she had been through, Georgina was determined that the umbilical cord be collected safely. "I was in trouble, my baby was in trouble but I just kept saying: Do not throw away that cord! Biovault was amazing. It was a bank holiday but they all pulled together. Nikki rang me and told me not to worry; they would get a kit out to me. As soon as that was sorted out I could relax.” 
Her daughter Charley was delivered safely and has had a powerful effect on Georgina who feels closer than ever to her family. "We are five siblings," she says, “and there are so many photos of the five of us together as children. To remove Ashley is like removing a piece from the picture; a piece of the jigsaw puzzle would be missing. Since I’ve had Charley I can begin to imagine how our mum is feeling right now. It’s beyond anything I’ve ever felt, it’s heart wrenching." 
"Our hope is that because his tumor is slow growing, and medicine is moving fast, the medicine will progress quicker than the tumor." 
With Charley’s cord blood and tissue safely stored away, Ashley’s family and friends have pulled out all the stops to organize fundraising events to pay for his treatment. "Ashely is overwhelmed by all of the support." Georgina says, "He can't believe that so many people care so much. But that’s human nature. If someone can help, they will" 

For the first time, World Cord Blood Day was celebrated all around the world on 15th, November, 2017. Placing this motto; ”Knowledge is power and can save a life”, as their main target, the priority this event was seeking for to put into effect was “Public Awareness’ and “Exchange of knowledge and experiences” among all  scientists and experts concerned with this realm of science and technology.
This event was sponsored and organized by Save the Cord Foundation, World Cord Blood Day is officially sponsored by Quick Specialized Healthcare Logistics (www.quickhealthcare.aero), a recognized leader in medical shipping and logistics. Inspiring Partners for this inaugural event include the Cord Blood Association, Be the Match (NMDP), World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA – Netcord), AABB and FACT. As Inspiring Partners, these organizations will provide industry-specific and medical expertise. 
It was also enjoyed a virtual webinar through which scientists of various countries represented their latest achievements among whom we can mark Dr. Éliane Gluckman, Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg, Sharon Miller, Dr. Filippo Milano, Dr. Colleen Delaney, Dr. Maria Craig and Dr. Wise Young.
Royan Stem Cell Technology Company, along with other centers celebrated this global event and held a news conference inviting reporters and journalists and the meeting was broadcasted live all around the world.
During this news conference, Dr.Morteza Zarrabi, Managing Director of Royan Stem Cell Technology Company, referring to the history of cord blood banking and transplantation made so far by cord blood stem cells, explained about various types of diseases which can be cured by cord blood stem cells and some more which are still under the trial phase.
Taking this opportunity, Dr.Zarrabi revealed this fact that there still are parents who seem do not know about the advantages of cord blood stem cells or have got a misunderstanding on the collection, storage and application of such helpful cells and that is why these cells are called “Hidden Treasure”.
Royan Cord Blood Stem Cells is going to run a second round ceremony inviting national experts involved with cord blood stem cells and transplantation issues in near future as well.  
 

Royan Stem Cell Technology Company participated in the 17th Oman Health Exhibition and Conference held in Oman, Muscat from 9-11, October, 2017 in which companies, hospitals and health clinics exposed their medical products and services. This year exhibition was concerned with medical equipment, services and health tourism industry through which Royan Stem Cell Technology set up its booth in regard with providing medical services such as infertility treatment and cell therapy and health tourism industry. 
Authorities of various organizations and expertise attended this event and Royan stand as well among whom we can refer to the Counselor of Minister of Health and Mr.Khosrow Taj, the Head of Iran Trade Development Organization. During these visits the services provided by Royan Stem Cell Technology Company were represented and the main goal of attending the event was explained in details which raised lots of interests and supports by these authorities.
The main goals of this year event fall on finding and focusing on medical demands and business opportunities available in Oman health market and this year event provided such an environment to draw the best benefits coming along with it. Dr.Zarrabi, Managing Director of Royan Stem Cell Technology Company, in company with commerce and development team members attended the 17th Oman Health Exhibition and held couple of meetings with other counterparts involved in medical services and health tourism industry showing company interests in holding up mutual scientific and business cooperation with all companies around the world.

Royan Stem Cell Technology C; attended in the 18th Royan International Award Congress held on 30th August to 1st September, 2017. This 3-day scientific event included many speeches and papers concerned with Infertility treatment, fertility health, stem cells, reproductive medicines and so forth through which Dr.Zarrabi, Managing Director of Royan Stem Cell Technology Co; made two lectures in regard with stem cells and infertility. There also were some other colleagues whose works were represented and evaluated by judge among which we can refer to the poster represented by Dr.Afzal and the research paper represented by Dr.Abroon which received a table of honor as well.  
 

The 3rd International Quality Conference was held here on 4 , July, 2017, in IRIB Gathering Hall with an approach toward “Evaluating and Determining Accessing Methods to High Quality Services and Products”.

According to Public Relation Department of Royan Stem Cell Technology Company, the pivotal issue of this conference focused on:  Iranian products promotion and competition, investigating access means toward high quality products and improving products quality and services as the key factors developing economic conditions. Further, supporting the enterprises applying the latest standards and state-of-the-art technologies and solving the challenges Iranian products face with presenting in world market were among other aspects discussed through this conference.

Through this conference, Royan Stem Cell Technology Company took part in this conference as well and was awarded with the “Table of Honor” in regard with storing Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells and the products driven from the embryo and cord blood.

Amniotic membrane mass production will be launched in Royan Stem Cell Technology Company in the next 4 months. Declaring it, Roxana Zavari, the head of biologic wound dressing project, stated that:” Amniotic membrane is the most interior layer in touch with amniotic liquid and the embryo and is a rich source of growth factors. This membrane is antibacterial and can be applied as anti-infection, anti-inflammation and pain killer.”
She later added:” The amniotic membrane can be used for healing diabetic chronic wounds, burn wounds type 2, the injuries caused as the result of pressure and skin improvement in patients suffering from EB.”
At present, the amniotic membrane is widely used all around the world in ophthalmology, dentistry, blood vessels surgery and so forth. The application of this membrane is so simple like just dressing a wound.
Zavari continued:” We, at Royan Stem Cell Technology Company, are enjoying the latest and the most updated methods and techniques according to the latest approaches and standards.”
Royan Stem Cell Technology Company has created a network of connections with number of hospitals in regard with applying the amniotic membrane manufactured by this company. Right now, various types of products are being manufactured by this company as per medical demands. Among hospitals taking advantage of amniotic membrane manufactured by Royan Stem Cell Technology Company, we can refer to Motahari Hospital on burn purpose, Modaress Hospital on diabetic foot wound and Royan Research Center for EB patients.

Stating this fact, Dr.Zarrabi, Managing Director of Royan Stem Cell technology Company, pointed to about 75,000 cord blood samples already save with this company and some 20 samples released so far for the transplantation purposes on treating various diseases such as thalassemia, cancer, immune system deficiency, etc.

“Royan Stem Cell Technology Company is a Hybrid Cord Blood Bank in nature, enjoying both Private and Public features, in which all the procedures and methods have been customized based on the4 latest international standards.” Revealing this fact, Dr.Zarrabi added this company is ready to open any scientific and trading cooperation with the neighboring countries in the realm of saving Cord Blood Stem Cells and we have just started it from Iraq, Kurdistan (Erbil Province).

The 2^nd International Congress on Hematological Disorders was held in Shiraz University here on 3^rd to 5^th, May, 2017. This year congress was mainly concerned with “New Challenges in Diagnosis and Treatment” and hosted many international reputable scientists from all over the world.

Dr.Abroun, the Chief Technical Manager of Royan Stem Cell Technology Company, was also invited to this scientific event through which he made a speech on some issues.  Such scientific events play a key role in exchanging the information and skills among scientists and researchers of various related fields and they can share their latest achievements with their counterparts.

Dr.Morteza Zarrabi; Managing Director of Royan Stem Cell Technology Company,  remarking to an increasing rate of samples stored with Royan Stem Cell Technology Company (more than75,000 samples  either in public or private), stated that more than 20 samples have been released by this bank so far for transplantation purposes of different malignant. He, later on, added that under the cooperation umbrella with Ministry of Health, there has been held a council of stem cells donors providing a registry of the stem cells stored  and the specification of each sample to be applied for those who seek for such a source of treatment.

Among other activities already performed, Dr.Zarrabi pointed to cell therapy center launched in pediatric center and the new collaboration made by the transplantation center in Iran, Tehran, which will lead to more samples to be released on various transplantation operations.

Also, making new research on amniotic membrane to be used as a healing way for burnt or diabetic injuries or even the chronic wounds, is under the progress and study in this center. Running a new research center on pulp stem cells is another new scientific field of activity with the approval of Company Board of Managers.

The Head of Hamedan Medicine University has also declared that this university is eager to open a scientific cooperation with Royan Research Institute and Royan Stem Cell Technology Company, since there has been a growing interest and eager among the students of this university to the achievements made or the ones under the way by Royan Research Institute and Royan Stem Cell Technology Company.

Royan Stem Cell Technology Company held its 5^th Annual Gathering, here on 20^th, Oct, 2016, in Hamedan. According to the company public Relation, the company representatives from all over the country, 27 offices nationwide, made their presence in this year gathering.

Considering the 10 years of experiences Royan Stem Cell Technology Company has achieved in collecting, sorting and storing the cord blood stem cells and its identity as the sole identity and successful enterprise providing services concerned with cord blood saving with a registry of about 65 thousands of cord blood samples in its private bank and the development an efficiency it has got through its offices, Royan Stem Cell technology Company has made great achievements in public health promotion and tackling untreatable and fatal diseases by means of applying cord blood stem cells which is among one of the key targets of the company since the beginning which was emphasized during this gathering once more.

Through this event, Mr.Ashkan Mozdgir, the head of R&D Department of Company pointed to some statistical data stating that there has been a raise of about %25 in the contracts made catching up to 7028 contracts during the first half of the year comparing with last year. Referring to this fact that there are more than 10 to 15 million cells in each Ml of blood, he also added that there has been an increase of about 155ML of samples collected in the current year compared to the previous years which will lead to an increase in cell count up to 150 to 225 million cells. Low rate of infected samples collected, taking part in number of conferences and exhibitions and holding up training courses in Royan summer school were among other activities performed by Royan Stem Cell Technology Company.

One part of this gathering went on introducing te most active centers and representatives among which the centers from Isfahan. Alborz and Khoramabad were nominated as the most active ones. Further, Ms.Saei was nominated as the best cord blood sample collector recording more than 430 samples during last year.

Based on the criteria set with the company, there have been other cord blood samples collectors from other offices and branches who were selected as the best ones as well.

Table of honors and rewards went on to the best representatives, blood collectors and other staff during this year gathering, and the view points and suggestions of the representatives and authorities were also brought up, changing their experiences to cope with probable barriers may raise in future.

A delegation from Royan Stem Cell Technology Company consisting of Dr.Zarrabi, Managing Director, Dr.Abroun, technical issues supervisor, Mr.Mozdgir, manager of R&D and Mr.Asgari, in charge of international affairs department, was dispatched to Oman on the occasion of the 6^th Oman Health Exhibition held on 20^th-22^nd, September, 2016, in Muscat. This delegation took part in this event in the form of a trading delegation formed and organized by Iran Trade Promotion Organization and could hold different B2B meetings and talks along the exhibition.

On the arrival of this trading delegation, a meeting was arranged by Iran Embassy in Oman, Muscat and Mr.Ali Bak, the Head of Iran Embassy in Musact and all the members were invited to this meeting in which some successful Iranian businessmen represented their ideas and shared their experiences with the audience. Later on, all the participants found this chance to exchange some ideas and suggestions mutually.

Through their staying, Iranian delegation seize the opportunity to visit and hold some more business talks with the authorities of the headquarters of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) at the Knowledge Oasis Muscat yesterday (Tuesday) and Chamber of Commerce through which two sides shared the interests of common and tried to find some vessels of business cooperation and collaboration.

The 7^Th Mother, Baby and Child (MBC) Exhibition was held in Iran. At Tehran Permanent Fair Ground from 25^th-28^th, September, 2016. Royan Stem Cell Technology Company, same as previous years, held its booth through this event representing its services and providing information to those who sought to know more about cord blood stem cells and the expecting parents who wished to proceed with storing the cord blood samples with Royan Stem Cell Te3chnology Company.

Public awareness is one of the crucial barriers which almost all cord blood banks have been facing with all around the world and Royan Stem Cell Technology Company is striving to cope with this problem through taking advantage of various techniques, means and media.