Research Programme

Biomedical research on cord blood increases the knowledge about hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation, as well as processes for collecting, processing, and storing cord blood.

In addition, progenitor cells and other blood components obtained from cord blood are being investigated in the development of new treatments for many diseases. Such stem cell research provides hope for more safe and effective medical therapies in the future. Other biomedical research, which does not relate to HSC, may also be undertaken with cord blood and lead to new discoveries that may improve medical care in the future.

SCBB highly values the contribution of biomedical research to the health and well-being of the community and the advancement of scientific knowledge. SCBB facilitates access to cord blood samples for the purpose of research. This is not necessarily limited to research in the field of haemopoietic stem cells (HSC) transplantation.

Donated cord blood that does not meet the requirements for transplants may be used for biomedical research with the donor’s consent. It may be used in future medical research and development, medical education, training, diagnosis and possibly the treatment of experimental medical conditions. Release of the cord blood and its by-products for research shall be in accordance with the requirements of Human Biomedical Research Act 2015 and its regulations.

All research applications go through operational ethical review by an independent Research Advisory Ethnics Committee (RAEC) to ensure protection of the welfare, rights and safety of cord blood donors and research subjects.

Application Guidelines

Applications are accepted from Project Investigators associated with Research Institutions (RI) that have submitted their declaration of compliance for performing research activities to Ministry of Health, Singapore as per the requirements of Human Biomedical Research Act 2015.

Investigators shall apply to procure cord blood and/or its derived products for research from SCBB. The completed application should provide all relevant information to allow for assessment by RAEC. A research study application should include the scientific, technical, procedural and ethics information necessary for the RAEC to evaluate both the ethics of the study and its intended future application of cord blood in through biomedical research.

The review process includes the following steps:

The Investigators shall contact SCBB to discuss on the sample requirements (type and quantity) before sending an application to Institutional Review Board's(IRB) approval for the research project. SCBB shall share necessary details on sample procurement process, incuding copy of Informed Consent, if necessary to facilitate the IRB application.Once Investigator receive IRB approval, an application for the assessment by RAEC shall be submitted.
Upon approval by RAEC, execution of Materials Transfer Agreement agreement between SCBB and Research Institution.
The decision to approve the request depends on the information provided in the application. Investigators must share any new knowledge that changes this information with SCBB through an amendment. Investigators must also inform SCBB of any incidental findings, Severe adverse events and privacy breaches.

For further information on the necessary forms and approval process, please email to: research@scbb.com.sg.

Researchers

Adj A/Prof Dr. Prema Raj Jeyara
Senior Consultant, Hepato-pancreato-billiary and Transplant Surgery, Singapore General Hospital

A/Prof Jeyaraj Prema Raj is the Head of Liver Transplant Program in Singapore General Hospital, the Director of SingHealth Transplant and the Deputy Director of the National Transplant Program, Ministry of Health.

He started the hepatobiliary service in both Tan Tock Seng and Singapore General Hospital in 1993 and 1995, respectively, the Cadaveric Liver Transplant Program at SGH in 2004 and the Living Donor Program and Liver Transplantation Service at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in 2008 where he was also the Director of Liver Transplantation Programme and Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board.

His primary research interests are tolerance induction in liver transplantation, and bioprinting & 3D printing of the liver.

Prof William Hwang
Senior Consultant, National Cancer Centre Singapore

Professor William Hwang is a haemato-oncologist with over 25 years’ experience in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cell therapy. His clinical and research focus is primarily in cell therapy and stem cell transplants.

He currently serves as Senior Consultant of the Department of Haematology, Singapore General Hospital and National Cancer Centre Singapore, Co-Director of the Regenerative Medicine Institute of Singapore (REMEDIS) and Senior Advisor for SingHealth. In 2023, he was the recipient of the National Outstanding Clinician Award.

Professor Hwang previously served as CEO of the National Cancer Centre Singapore (2017-2023), Director, SingHealth Transplant; Head, SingHealth Duke-NUS Blood Cancer Centre; Head, Department of Haematology, Singapore General Hospital and Medical Director, Singapore Cord Blood Bank (SCBB).

Dr Gerald Owen Schaefer
Assistant Professor, Centre for Biomedical Ethics, National University of Singapore

Dr. G. Owen Schaefer was appointed Assistant Professor at the Centre for Biomedical Ethics in 2020. He is currently Director of the Phase II Health ethics, Law and Professionalism (HeLP) curriculum. Owen’s research interests cover ethical issues raised by the development of novel biotechnologies.

Before beginning his graduate work, Owen spent two years at the Department of Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health in the US as a pre-doctoral fellow. There, he received training in research ethics, was involved in the department’s ethics consultation service, and published several academic articles. He then went on to read for BPhil and DPhil degrees in philosophy at Oxford, writing a dissertation on moral enhancement. Immediately prior to joining the CBmE, he spent a year as a post-doc at the Oxford Centre for Neuroethics researching the implications of various novel biotechnologies.

Dr Alvin Chua
Assistant Director, Transplant Research, Singapore General Hospital

Dr Chua has 20 years of skin cell culture and tissue banking experience, having been previously trained in Switzerland, the USA and Australia. He is also currently the Regulatory & Compliance Lead for SingHealth Duke-NUS Cell Therapy Centre as well as Assistant Director of the Transplant Tissue Centre at the SingHealth Duke-NUS Transplant Centre (SDTC), where he is responsible for the operations, quality assurance and research of tissue transplantations for skin, cardiovascular tissues and iliac vessels.

Dr Frances Yeap
Consultant, Division of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Department of Paediatrics, Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital

Dr Yeap graduated from St Bartholomew’s and The Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry and returned to Singapore to work and train in Paediatrics. Her clinical practice involves General Paediatrics and all aspects of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, including Bone Marrow Transplant. She has a special interest in the area of bone marrow transplants, especially that of non-malignant transplants and immunodeficiencies.

Dr Francesca Lorraine Lim
Senior Consultant, SingHealth Duke-NUS Blood Cancer Centre

Dr Lim is a Senior Consultant Hematologist at Singapore General Hospital, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at the Advanced Cell Therapy and Research Institute Singapore (ACTRIS), and Deputy Head of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Cell Therapy Center.

Dr Lim spent 2 years training at MD Anderson Cancer Center on CAR T cell therapy particularly on CAR NK cell therapy under Professor Katy Rezvani as well as in the Good Manufacturing Processing Facility (GMP). Since her return from MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr Lim has been instrumental in supporting and coordinating the Cell Therapy Program at SGH Haematology, SingHealth, both at the clinical, research and translational level.

Dr Marieta Chan
Health Sciences Authority

Ongoing Clinicial Trials

Coming soon.

Obstetric Doctors and Nurses

The collaboration and unwavering support from our healthcare partners made it possible for SCBB to continue its mission of saving lives. SCBB is committed to working together with our partners to educate the public and patients on the benefits of cord blood banking: either as a precious gift of life to others through public donation or for family banking, with the option of potential donation in future.

What is Your Role?

As the cord blood collector, your ability to collect an adequate volume of cord blood is pivotal to the potential use of the product in therapy³. The resources and tools provided in this section serve as a guide to help you collect sufficient cord blood for use in treatments in the future.

The safety of mother and baby are the top priorities and should never be compromised during cord blood collection. While we encourage you to obtain the maximum amount of cord blood from the umbilical cord and placenta as every drop counts, cord blood collection should be conducted only if it does not pose any risk to mother or child.

¹ Cooper, Cathy A, and Mariesa R Severson. “Cord Blood and Tissue Banking: Supporting Expectant Parent’s Decision Making.” International Journal of Childbirth Education, vol. 28, no. 2, Apr. 2013, pp. 62, Accessed 18 Sept. 2017.

² Peberdy, Lisa, et al. “Health care professionals’ knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to umbilical cord blood banking and donation: an integrative review.” BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, vol. 16, no. 81, 2016, pp. 1–19., Accessed 18 Sept. 2017.

³ Hend, Mohammed S, and Sayed A. EL Hend. “Knowledge and attitude of maternity nurses regarding cord blood collection and stem cells: An educational intervention.” Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, vol. 5, no. 4, 2015, pp. 58–69., Accessed 18 Sept. 2017.

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