Stem Cell Technologies

Onkim, which was established in 2006 at Istanbul Technical University Ayazaga Campus with KOSGEB's support, is a health organization. It is in service subject to The Ministry of Health The Regulations of Cord Blood Banking and General Directorate for Treatment Services. A cooperation agreement has been signed between Wellcare Laboratories Ltd and ONKİM Stem Cell Technologies (ONKİM) since 2022, and services have been started to be provided in laboratories on behalf of Onkim in the TRNC. With this agreement, we aim to bring the stem cell services to the highest level within the country within the framework of scientific and ethical values, and to ensure the execution of a reliable and respectable service by applying the most advanced technology standards.

Onkim, which does cord blood and umbilical cord tissue banking under GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) conditions, is a special firm that supports R&D (Research&Development) studies.

Onkim also holds a certificate from The Ministry of Health- General Directorate for Treatment Services Cord Blood Banking and General Directorate for Pharmaceuticals and Pharmacy in 21 December 2008. Onkim also got certificate for “Umbilical Cord Tissue Banking”, “Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) Production from Wharton’s jelly” and “Fibroblast Production from Skin Biopsy” from General Directorate for Pharmaceuticals and Pharmacy in 21 November 2014

Stem cell are found mainly in bone marrow but also found in varities of organs where they can proliferate and differentiate in the time when it is needed. Stem cell are isolated from adult tissues like skin, eye, heart, kidney, lung, gastrointestinal system, pancreas, liver, adipose. Recent studies showed that cord blood is also rich in stem cell.

Placenta is the organ responsible for the transportation of nutrients and oxygen between mother and the baby. The baby intreact with placenta through umbilical cord. Right after the birth, placenta is removed, but cord blood remains inside the cord itself after the baby is born. Cord blood and the blood inside baby’s circulating system are different from each other. Cord blood contains hematopoietic stem cells.

After the delivery of the baby, the umbilical cord is clamped and and seperated, the blood inside the cors, that is connected to placenta, is being collected. The baby is no longer attached to the umbilical cord. The remaining blood is collected using special cord blood sterile collection bags containing anticoagulant. Unless it is collected, it is discarded with the placenta. Approximately 35-120 ml blood can be collected and within 48 hours the blood is transferred to cord blood bank. Collection procedure of cord blood would not affect birth procedure and the baby. Generally collection procedure is conducted by physician in charge.
After processing and counting stem cells, they are stored in liquid nitrogen tanks at -196C for more than 20 years. If necessary, cord blood is transferred to treatment centre in advance.