Stem cells from the umbilical cord offer potential to replace destroyed tissue or damaged bodily functions, and hence to cure disease. 24 serious diseases are already treated using stem cells from people's own umbilical cord blood^[1], and this number is rising rapidly. At present, more than 3300 clinical trials involving stem cells in general are in progress at university hospitals globally^[2], and new results are published every month.

The stem cells extracted from the umbilical cord blood of newborns are the most 'potent' of the stem cells used for treatment as these are 'young' and can be collected very easily with no risk or inconvenience, while extracting stem cells from bone marrow requires surgical intervention.

This is why collecting umbilical cord blood from newborns offers a unique opportunity for parents-to-be, future generations and any highly developed welfare society which exploits institutional care to promote the health and wellbeing of its citizens.

^{1 parentsguidecordblood.org
2 clinicaltrials.gov}