Yes. Most of you have heard of stem cells. Stem cells will be important in the future is the general idea, but that is no longer true. Cord blood derived stem cells can already be used in the treatment of more than 80 different conditions and/or diseases.

Stem cells will play an ever increasing role. Stem cells are not an invention but a discovery. Stem cells build and renew cells as long as our species exist.

What Doctors Say About Banking Newborn Stem Cells

“There’s only two things that (you can) potentially buy your new baby that are lifesaving: One is a good car seat and the other is cord blood.” ~ Dr. Marra Francis, Ob/Gyn, CBR medical consultant

“Just like we didn’t envision the powers of PCs thirty years ago, we may not be seeing all the uses of cord blood yet.” ~ Dr. LeeAnn Jensen, Immunologist National Institutes of Health Potential

“A really exciting area that’s just now in the basic science lab, is the area where stem cells can be used for going over to muscle cells like your heart muscle if you had a heart attack or brain cells if you had Parkinson’s Disease. Hopefully, in 20 or 30 or 40 years these might be potential applications for stem cells including umbilical cord blood stem cells." ~ Dr. Stanton Goldman, Pediatric Hematologist Oncologist and stem cell transplant Physician, Medical City, Dallas, Texas

“Through cultivation of stem cells extracted from the cord blood, patients with spinal injuries have a great chance of having their damaged nervous system repaired, helping them to rise on their feet again.” ~ Dr. Chiang Yung-hsiao, Ph.D., Chairman of Neurosurgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, Tapei, Taiwan

“[Cord blood stem cells] might be suitable for transplantation in neurodegenerative diseases, gene delivery to the central nervous system, and repair of brain and spinal cord injuries.” ~ Juan R. Sanchez-Ramos, Shijie Song, Siddharth G. Kamath, et al. Experimental Neurology, 171, 2001

“The ultimate goal is for all usable umbilical cord blood to be banked in a national cord blood [bank] similar to the National Bone Marrow Donor Program or saved for an individual’s or family’s own potential use. The latter may prove especially significant for those with a family history of leukemia or cancer or for minority ethnic patients.” ~ Nursing Spectrum, February 24, 1997

Below is the list of treatable conditions and diseases at the moment (Source: US National Marrow Donor program)