Biobanking is considered to be one of the ten ideas changing the world with an estimated value of $45 billion by 2025. Despite the challenges, as the climate for innovation in the biobanking industry continues to flourish around the world, it is certain that amazing discoveries will emerge from this large-scale method of preserving and accessing human samples; biobanking is no longer just a place for collecting and storing samples. This book will cover a wide variety of subjects from across the future biobanking spectrum including scientific strategies, personalized medicine, regenerative medicine and stem cell challenges, disease surveillance, population genetics and innovative methods of biobanking.

The study of mental health disorders and the genetics behind these disorders can be greatly enhanced by the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). Since many mental health disorders develop after puberty, the only way in which to study the genetic mechanism of these diseases previously was through cellular surrogates, such as blood or cultured fibroblasts. Having the ability to reprogram adult cells to the pluripotent stage provides the capacity to study the onset of these disorders during a culture model of neural development and to include the impact of genetic risk factors and potential environmental triggers. Working with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the Rutgers Cell and DNA Repository (RUCDR) has begun banking iPSC source cells and converting those source cells into iPSC for distribution to the scientific community. Although initial protocols were developed to reprogram fibroblasts, the ability to reprogram blood cells has several advantages including less invasive collection, less post collection manipulation, and the large number of samples in existing collections. Here, we provide detailed protocols for reprogramming either fibroblasts with retroviral vectors or cryopreserved lymphocytes with Sendai viral vectors. Our goal is to support the discovery of effective treatments for mental health disorders. Table of Contents: Acknowledgments / Introduction / Appendix / General Protocols / References / Author Biographies

Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering play significant roles in the treatment of currently intractable conditions, such as chronic heart failure, stroke, chronic osteoarthritis, and other maladies. Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering generally depend on the utilization of stem cells to treat patients but may also utilize mature cells that would not normally be considered as stem cells (e.g., skin). Stem cells (like mature cells) may be obtained from many sources in the body including bone marrow, cord blood, cord tissue, adipose tissue, etc. Although stem cells are often used in therapy immediately upon isolation, in many circumstances, the stem and progenitor cells will be harvested, processed and banked frozen until a later time. Biobanking is a convenient alternative to same-day therapeutic use, in that it allows for patient recovery (e.g., from liposuction), provides time to identify the best treatment options, and may allow for multiple interventions with additional patient inconvenience or risk.

This volume covers protocols related to both pluripotent and somatic stem cells, including the ethical procurement of tissues and cells for the provision of “seed stock,” standardized methods for deriving hESCs and iPSCs, isolating mesenchymal stem cells, cell culture and cryopreservation, in addition to quality assurance and information management. Stem Cell Banking: Concepts and Protocols aims to contribute to the development of this field by providing information that is essential to establishing a bona fide stem cell bank. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and thorough, Stem Cell Banking: Concepts and Protocols is a valuable resource for stem cell scientists and novices to the field, and will help strengthen and maximize their use of existing and future stem cell resources.

This book exemplifies experience across the globe in banking of cord blood, mesenchymal, embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells for clinical use from the United States, Canada, the European Union, Switzerland and Japan to Iran, India and Serbia. The concerns are similar regardless of stem cell type or origin. Implementing core values and common standards depend often on specific circumstances of political and economic setting, which makes flexibility as important as systematic planning. Banking of stem cells is not just building a repository and storing samples. The planning, design, construction and maintenance involve multiple skilled professionals. Stem cell banks are points where technology and medicine converge with ethics, laws and regulations. If properly designed and organized, their utilization will have a broad impact not only on the scientific community and medical professionals but also on the general public.

Bone Marrow transplantation or Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a life saving procedure in a number of diseases,hematological and non hematological, which fail alternative medical management or have no other treatment options. It has transformed the lives of thousands of patients and their families around the world battling with fatal or debilitating diseases.There are many unique aspects of bone marrow transplantation which makes it very different from solid organ transplants. There is an enormous amount of research going on in this field both at clinical and basic science levels.With the rapidly changing world and field of transplantation, there is a need for an authoritative and up to date resource for transplant professionals. This book titled Contemporary Bone Marrow Transplantation aims to be a reference text comprehensively covering various facets of hematopoietic stem cell transplants with latest insights about the technique and basic science behind it . The book is the product of collective effort of transplant professionals round the world, and will reflect their experience as well as the current standard of care practices in Stem cell transplantation.The book will be divided into different sections focusing on the basic science of bone marrow transplant, the technical aspects of the procedure itself and the supportive care of transplant patients.There will also be a section each on epidemiology, upcoming trends and also case studies , which will discuss real case scenarios from the experience of the authors, to illustrate the practical challenges in managing bone marrow transplant recipients.