Working to improve the quality of life for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients and their families through medical research, supportive services and education.
Mental Health America – a proud member charity of Community
Health Charities and the leading advocacy organization addressing the full
spectrum of mental and substance use conditions and their effects nationwide –
works to inform, advocate and enable access to quality behavioral health
services for all Americans.
Mental Health America continues its tradition of celebrating
May as Mental Health Month, which began in 1949 to raise awareness of mental
health conditions and mental wellness for all.
TAMPA, Fla. Alison Willing searches for hope for stroke patients. Her research uses umbilical cord blood to lessen stroke effects in rats. “Umbilical cord blood is considered by many to be medical waste after birth,” says Dr. Willing. Her research has shown that using cells from cord blood to treat strokes in rats lessens brain damage.
TAMPA, Fla. Alison Willing searches for hope for stroke patients. Her research uses umbilical cord blood to lessen stroke effects in rats. “Umbilical cord blood is considered by many to be medical waste after birth,” says Dr. Willing. Her research has shown that using cells from cord blood to treat strokes in rats lessens brain damage. The rats are able to function at almost normal levels following treatment. “With the support of the American Heart Association, we have answered critical questions about underlying stroke pathology and how cord blood cells induce recovery.”
Unlike current stroke treatments that need to be delivered within three hours of onset, Dr. Willing’s findings show cord blood cells work better when delivered later, up to 48 hours after onset. In addition, she found that cord blood cells decrease inflammation in the brain and the rest of the body that has been caused by stroke and this essentially rescues dying neurons in the brain. This opens up opportunities for new treatments that don’t target the brain. If Dr. Willing’s results can be translated into the clinic either as a cord blood or a novel pharmacologic treatment, it means that the majority of stroke patients could be treated, decreasing mortality and improving quality of life for survivors.
Mental Health America – a proud member charity of Community
Health Charities and the leading advocacy organization addressing the full
spectrum of mental and substance use conditions and their effects nationwide –
works to inform, advocate and enable access to quality behavioral health
services for all Americans.
