What is stem cell banking?

Stem cell banking is the practice of storing stem cells for future medical use. Stem cells are extracted and stored by a public or private stem cell bank for use in regenerative therapies for a large number of diseases. Stem cells themselves can help all different types of cells to renew, including the cells found in blood, guts, muscle and skin, for example. Should your child fall ill in the future, stored stem cells could be used to help repair or replace damaged tissue. Stem cells may also be used by blood relatives of the child, offering protection for the family against a large number of diseases, many of them life-limiting or life-threatening. Examples include anaemia, leukaemia and certain types of cancers.

Cord blood for stem cell storage can be extracted from the umbilical cord and/or placenta after birth, or taken from early embryos or amniotic fluid. It is also possible to take stem cells from adults.

Both public and private stem cell banks are regulated by strict rules in many countries in order to manage methods of extraction, storage and use. Stem cell treatments are being developed by researchers and medics around the world and it is likely that in the future they will be offered as treatment for an even larger range of diseases.

Trusting your baby’s stem cells to a stem cell bank gives you the ultimate protection against future medical issues, not only for your baby as they grow into an adult, but also for others in your family. It is possible for stem cells to be held in stem cell storage facilities in separate samples, so that they can be used multiple times.