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Smart Cells Celebrates 25 Years
The Latest Innovations at Smart Cells
Neuro Assistance: Since October 2025, Smart Cells supports families seeking to use their child’s own cord blood to treat cerebral palsy and autism, subject to medical eligibility. This program is made possible by the Smart Cells participation in the FamiCord Group (described below). The Neuro Assistance programme helps families navigate the assessment and application process. Children that pass the medical screening may receive their own cord blood as part of an investigational treatment program at Children’s Hospital in Lublin, Poland.
Cord Tissue Advanced: In October 2026, Smart Cells launched Cord Tissue Advanced, a new service offering families access to both traditionally preserved cord tissue as well as isolated Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) for potential future applications.
Both the Neuro Assistance programme and the Cord Tissue Advanced storage options reflect Smart Cells' commitment to move beyond traditional stem cell banking. Smart Cells now combines long-term preservation of newborn stem cells with additional services that may help families access future medical opportunities.
Smart Cells: The first 25 years
Smart Cells was the first private cord blood bank in the United Kingdom, entering the market at a time when awareness of cord blood stem cells and their medical applications was still developing. The company's first cord blood sample was collected in February 2001, marking the beginning of a journey that would eventually extend far beyond the UK.
From the beginning, the Smart Cells vision was to make stem cell preservation accessible to more families and provide a reliable, long-term banking service supported by scientific expertise and high-quality laboratory standards.
A significant milestone came in November 2005, when Smart Cells became the first private stem cell bank in the United Kingdom to release a sample for use in treating a child with a serious medical condition.
In 2026, Smart Cells celebrates its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter-century of helping families preserve their newborns' umbilical cord stem cells for potential future medical use. Over the years, Smart Cells has continued to expand its services and build relationships with maternity hospitals, healthcare professionals, and families.
Supporting Families When Stored Stem Cells Are Needed
For Smart Cells, the ability to support families when their stored samples are requested by treating clinicians remains one of the most meaningful aspects of its 25-year history.
A 2009 milestone was the first Smart Cells release of a cord blood sample for use in a cerebral palsy treatment programme at Duke University. Then a 2018 milestone was the first Smart Cells release of a cord blood sample for use in an autism treatment programme at Duke University.
Expanding Beyond the UK: The Middle East and Hong Kong
International expansion began early in Smart Cells' history, reflecting the company's ambition to make cord blood banking available to families beyond the United Kingdom.
In 2003, Smart Cells opened its first office in the Middle East, establishing a presence in a region where interest in stem cell preservation was growing. The company subsequently developed operations across multiple Middle Eastern markets, including: the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Lebanon.
In 2004, Smart Cells established its Hong Kong office, becoming the first and the only UK-based cord blood bank to establish a local presence in the territory. Hong Kong developed into an important market for the company, serving families seeking an international stem cell banking provider with established laboratory expertise in the UK.
By its 20th anniversary in 2021, Smart Cells has collected samples from more than 70 countries, demonstrating how its operations had grown from a UK-based service into an international business.
Joining FamiCord Group
In August 2021, Smart Cells became part of FamiCord Group. This combined Smart Cells' established operations in the UK, Middle East, and Hong Kong, together with FamiCord's extensive European laboratory network, clinical experience, and broader range of research capabilities.
Today, FamiCord is Europe's largest family cord blood banking group and one of the leading stem cell banking organisations worldwide. The FamiCord Group has preserved more than 1 million cord blood and other biological material units, reflecting decades of experience across its international network.
In 2024, Smart Cells and FamiCord opened a laboratory in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This represents the first FamiCord laboratory outside of Europe, and is a significant investment in the region's stem cell banking infrastructure. The new facility enables Smart Cells to support families in the Middle East with a comprehensive localised service.
Looking Ahead: The Next Generation of Stem Cell Banking
As Smart Cells enters its next chapter, the company continues to evolve alongside developments in regenerative medicine and cellular therapies.
What began primarily as a cord blood preservation service has expanded to include cord tissue banking, isolation of cells from either cord blood or cord tissue, and participation in regenerative cell therapies for the diagnoses of cerebral palsy and autism.
As Smart Cells celebrates this anniversary, its focus remains on supporting families, maintaining high standards of stem cell preservation, and embracing scientific developments that may shape the next 25 years of stem cell banking.
Celebrating 25 Years of Smart Cells | A Special Message from One of Our Families
Mother: Hi, this is my 20 year old baby, whose stem cells have been stored with Smart Cells for 20 years. Happy Birthday Smart Cells!
Child: Happy Birthday!