Considering that stem cell transplantation for blood diseases depends on several factors including the patient, the disease, the compatibility and the source of stem cells used, it is important to investigate the factors of the collection, isolation, freezing and thawing process to which these cells are subjected.

For the success of a stem cell transplant it is necessary firstly to have compatibility between donor and recipient, secondly it is necessary that the cells are sufficient according to the patient's weight and that they are in good condition after thawing (living stem cells).

The IDCBIS Public Cord Blood Bank with a scientific approach has been analyzing different variables that may allow improving the processes or identifying characteristics of the cord blood units that allow predicting the success of the transplant.

The umbilical cord blood units collected from altruistic donors in the district are processed in the bank until they are frozen for storage, performing analysis on tissue compatibility molecules, among other analyses.

The finding was awarded by the scientific committee of 16^th International Cord Blood Symposium was that removing red blood cells from cord blood units could improve the quality of stem cells for transplantation.

The committee also considered very novel the finding that certain genetic variants present in donors predispose to a better or worse quality of cord blood units, which would allow to choose them before transplantation and avoid transplant failures.

These results were presented by IDCBIS researchers, Dr. Ana María Perdomo Arciniegas and Dr. Diana Vanegas, who represented the Bank's group of researchers, presented the research and resolved the concerns of the most important scientists in the area.