Irvine, CA 92625, US
Biotechnology
www.caricord.com
The core technology of CariCord is the banking and storage of a newborn baby’s umbilical cord blood cells obtained at the time of birth. CariCord represents a truly disruptive model in biological banking.
CariCord is the world’s only umbilical cord blood bank that is both public and private while also holding rigorous FDA licensure to manufacture cord blood as a pharmaceutical drug, in the same laboratory. The CariCord Mission Statement is, “To provide parents with the confidence that they have taken the right steps to protect their children’s future, by securing the finest processing and storage of umbilical cord stem cell products available, anywhere in the world.”
Great strides have been made in the evolution of collecting, processing, and storing umbilical cord cells over the past decades. CariCord prides itself on utilizing the latest advances to produce the highest quality umbilical cord cells and optimal storage techniques. Historically, samples have been known to last three decades. With current storage techniques employed at CariCord, sample viability is not believed to be linked to a finite shelf life.
Stem cell biology is real. The element of risk is also inherent in our daily life. We all age and inevitably deteriorate gradually, we all carry risks of developing medical problems with key organs, and we all carry possible exposure to developing cancer. CariCord offers a true solution in providing insurance to all of these facets of life, some of which are immediately available and others on the horizon. Just as a financial bank implies monetarily saving for the future, CariCord offers a biological method to save for the future.
Private Cord Blood Blood Banking and Storage of adult hematopoietic stem cells for autologus use.
Private Cord Tissue Banking of mesenchymal and epithelial adult stem cells, for future use in regenerative medicine
Human Leukocyte Antigen testing ascertains whether a donor and a recipient are a sufficient match for a transplant
President and CEO
As the CEO of CariCord, Calvin is leading a seasoned team of former cord blood business executives in establishing a new cord blood banking model to serve this burgeoning industry. Prior to CariCord, Calvin led the StemCyte North America initiatives and strategic business development across the organization with a focus on developing external staff. His 20+ years of executive management and planning experience, position CariCord to be the brand name most associated with quality.
He will lead the team in our efforts to leverage the CariCord brand, to help define the competitive advantages for its private banking business.
In addition to his activities at StemCyte, Calvin is active as a director on the board of the Cord Blood Forum, an industry association that has organized the Cord Blood Symposium, for the last 11 years.
He has also spent 15+ years lobbying Washington on issues (in favor of consumers) for the home medical equipment industry.
Dr. Bhardwaj did his undergraduate studies in physiology (Western University) and medical school (Queen’s University) in Canada. He became very interested in the brain and its development, and did his surgical residency in neurosurgery at the University of Toronto. During his training he completed a PhD at the Nobel Medical Institute at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden with a focus on human stem cell dynamics in the brain and heart. His thesis took an innovative perspective of examining human cellular turnover by using fallout from global hydrogen fusion atomic bomb testing. Dr. Bhardwaj then did fellowships in pediatric neurosurgery as well as a stem cell research fellowship at the Sanford Burnham Institute in La Jolla, California. Dr. Bhardwaj has great interest in aspects of neuroplasticity, cellular regeneration, restorative surgery, epigenetics, and cell differentiation.
Possessing a breadth of finance, operational and entrepreneurial experience, Jim is charged with managing all of the company’s financial affairs and will engage with the Sales, Client Services, and medical teams to assist in positioning the company for growth and expansion.
Most recently, Jim was Vice President of Finance and Human Resources at cord blood therapeutics company, StemCyte. Prior positions include Chief Financial Officer for Southern Therapy, Inc., a medical equipment sales company, which Jim helped grow into the second-fastest growing company in Austin; Vice President of Advice Inc., a national direct marketing and sales training company for the mortgage banking and automobile industries; and Chief Financial Officer for OneStar Foundation, The Office of the Governor’s initiative for volunteerism and non-profit capacity-building in the State of Texas.
Mr. Todd holds an MBA and BBA from University of Texas at Austin.
Executive Director
Dr. Freed has over 30 years of experience and over 80 publications in the fields of stem cell banking and histocompatibility. He is a member of the American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, AABB, the American Society of Transplantation, and the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Dr. Freed is a diplomate of the American Board of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics.