Family Bank: Smart Cells

About

Smart Cells was the first private stem cell bank established in the UK and has been helping families preserve the future potential of newborn stem cells for more than 25 years. Since our foundation, we have remained committed to providing families with a trusted, high-quality stem cell banking service, focused on safety, transparency, and clinical excellence.

Today, Smart Cells has released more cord blood samples for treatment than any other private stem cell bank in the UK, reflecting both the quality of our processing and the confidence families place in us.

Smart Cells is part of the FamiCord Group — Europe’s largest family cord blood banking network and one of the world’s leading stem cell banking organisations. Together with FamiCord Group, we combine local expertise with the strength of an international group operating across more than 40 countries and supported by over 35 years of scientific and clinical experience.

Labs and Locations

Smart Cells International owns our UK laboratory:
Unit 7 Chancerygate
Horton Close, Horton Road
West Drayton, UB7 8EW
United Kingdom

Smart Cells Middle East also owns a laboratory:
Building 40 Dubai Healthcare City
26th St - Umm Hurair 2 - Dubai Healthcare City
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

Business Experience

FamiCord Group (operating under the name FamiCord AG since 2025, following the merger of PBKM and Vita 34 in 2021) is the European market leader and the third-largest stem cell bank worldwide. The Group has secured over 1.5 million biological material samples (mostly cord blood, cord tissue, placental blood, placenta). FamiCord has a robust operational infrastructure: 13 processing and storage laboratories, 2 storage only laboratories, and 3 cell & gene GMP centers for CDMO activity, controlling approximately 55-60% of the European cord blood banking market.

Supplying stem cells for medical use remains at the core of the Group's focus. FamiCord actively supports the use of stem cells in treatments, with a history of over 8,500 patients treated with 16,500 stem cell preparations including 278 cord blood applications (as of June 2026). The Group has been involved in several clinical trials in the area of: cardiology, neurology, dermatology, orthopedics and others in the role of sole sponsor, co-sponsor or supplier of cell-based ATMP. FamiCord also actively participates in cerebral palsy treatment programs for children [Expanded Access Program conducted in Lublin, Poland].

The CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) activity, primarily under the Bramble Bio brand, remains an advanced technological pillar. Through 3 specialized CDMO centers located in Germany, Poland and Portugal, the Group provides comprehensive manufacturing services for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) in compliance with cGMP standards, strengthening its position as a trusted contract manufacturer for the biotechnology industry.

Regarding the development of CAR-T cell therapies (oncology), the Group has revised its strategy. FamiCordTx, initially developed as an internal venture, is now an independent entity with which FamiCord Group is affiliated (holding an approximately 20% stake). This allows the Group to focus its resources on its core business and commercial B2B services.

The scale of medical operations is built on solid financial foundations. In 2025, FamiCord Group generated sales revenues of EUR 88.17 million (a 7.3% year-over-year increase) with significant proportion of recurrent revenue. The Group achieved an EBITDA of EUR 10.6 million (a 12.3% y/y increase). FamiCord AG is listed at Deutsche Boerse in Franfurt and is backed mostly by financial shareholders (AOC – private equity, SVF – investment fund, Nationale Netherlanden – pension fund and others). This guarantees absolute stability and security for the long-term storage of materials entrusted by patients.

Collection Kit

Smart Cells stem cell collection kit contains all the necessary components for the safe collection of umbilical cord blood and/or cord tissue sample(s). Each kit also contains a maternal blood collection kit and a copy of our collection instructions for information purposes and to ensure samples are collected in accordance with requirements of the Human Tissue Authority (UK). Smart Cells uses the Macopharma cord blood collection bag, which is sterile inside & outside for C-Section use.

Transportation container

Smart Cells use the NanoCool® temperature controlled packaging system to transport samples. The NanoCool® system is activated once the samples are packed, which ensures that the temperature remains within the optimum range. Smart Cells has compiled have their own internal validation studies on the performance of NanoCool® kits, and these have been approved by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA). The studies clearly show clearly that under various ambient temperature conditions, the cooling effect remains within the desired range for in excess of 72 hours. Moreover, the transport container includes an i-button temperature logger.

Shipping Info

Smart Cells uses licensed courier services to transport all samples into the laboratory. Shipping is included in the basic price within the UK. In the event a stored sample is needed for a transplant, we have a validated dry-shipper that can safely transport samples to any transplant centre in the world. The Smart Cells laboratory is open Monday-Saturday but closed on Sundays and Christmas Day.

Processing Method

Cord blood samples are processed manually using a validated sedimentation method with HES (hydroxyethyl starch). This method is used to facilitate the separation of the main cellular components of the sample, allowing the plasma to be separated from the stem cell-rich fraction and the red blood cells.

Cord tissue samples are processed by cutting the tissue into small segments and stored as 4 segments per vial, total of 4 vials stored per client.  

Components Stored

Smart Cells stores the whole buffy coat, the component of blood that contains white cells and stem cells, as well as smaller samples of whole blood taken before processing. Cord blood is stored as 1 bulk unit with up to 5 sub-samples. Cord blood certificate includes: Client ID number, Storage location, storage date, TNC count , CD34+ count.

Cord tissue is split into 16 segments and then stored across four different vials. Therefore, the cord tissue is stored as 4 vials, with 4 segments in each (16 segments in total). Cord Tissue certificate includes: Client ID number, Storage location, storage date.

Storage Method

Cord blood final storage is in buffy coat freezing bags, inside a storage cassette. Cord tissue final storage is in cryovials. Smart Cells uses a controlled step-rate freezer to reduce the temperature of cord blood samples slowly to -160 C before transferring them into long term storage tanks where the units are stored in the vapour phase of cryogenic nitrogen.

Licensing & Accreditation

Smart Cells International holds a license from the Human Tissue Authority (HTA), which is the mandatory accrediting organization for banking all human tissue in the United Kingdom. Smart Cells has an HTA license which covers procurement, testing, processing, storage, import, release, and export of cord blood cells and tissue.

Smart Cells also has ISO9001:2015 certification, and participates in the UK National External Quality Assessment Service (NEQAS) quality assurance scheme for full blood and CD34+ cell counting.

Smart Cells takes ongoing Quality Assurance very seriously, with a rigorous programme of validating and auditing all critical practices and procedures. Fully trained and experienced staff operate according to validated procedures. The Smart Cells laboratory technical team are educated to degree and post graduate degree level in relevant biomedical sciences and use globally recognised techniques and technologies in the state-of-the-art processing facility.

Clinical Experience

• FamiCord Group has provided more than 8,500 clinical stem cell therapies worldwide, including both standard hematopoietic stem cell transplantations and experimental/regenerative medicine therapies.
• Famicord Group has released 278 cord blood units for therapy as of June 2026.
• The Group has extensive experience in releasing autologous cord blood units for children diagnosed with neurological disorders, particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and cerebral palsy (CP), under dedicated therapeutic access programs.
• Selected laboratories within the FamiCord network also participate in public cord blood banking programs and collect cord blood donations intended for unrelated donor transplantations.
• FamiCord Group actively participates in clinical trials, observational studies, and compassionate use programs involving cord blood and mesenchymal stem cell therapies in neurological, hematological, immunological, and regenerative medicine indications. More information: https://famicord.com/science-and-clinical-trials/
• Through its GMP-certified manufacturing facilities in Poland and Portugal, FamiCord develops and manufactures advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) based on cord blood, perinatal tissues, and mesenchymal stem cells. The Group is involved in translational medicine projects focused on developing innovative regenerative therapies and cell-based medicinal products.
• FamiCord collaborates with leading hospitals, transplantation centers, and regenerative medicine clinics across Europe and internationally, supporting innovative therapeutic programs using cord blood and perinatal stem cells.

Insurance

The Smart Cells standard storage agreement already includes Transplant Assistance. It covers key services such as CD34+ testing, low-resolution HLA typing, and free shipping internationally to a transplant centre if the sample is ever needed for treatment.

Community Service

We have partnered with the charity Leukaemia & Myeloma Research UK in their Model Cell Biobank project to provide stem cell storage services to qualifying families. The Leukaemia & Myeloma Research UK (LMRUK) is a charitable organisation, established in 2015 to fund essential research into the nature, causes, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of leukaemia and myeloma. This partnership allows qualifying expectant mothers the opportunity to store their baby’s umbilical cord blood stem cells at the time of birth in case they are needed in the future to treat that child or a sibling if they are a suitable match.

Prices

Smart Cells is committed to making cord blood banking affordable for everyone. Their first year fee for cord blood alone is only £890 in the UK, and this includes both the 1st year storage fee. All Smart Cells packages have everything included such as courier fees, phlebotomist (if required) and free international shipment of samples worldwide if ever needed for treatment. There are no hidden or additional fees at all. Storage fees of £145 per year begin from the 2nd year. The standard storage term in the UK at present is 25 years.  Outside the UK, prices vary, depending on the country of birth. Please visit Smart Cells pricing page for up-to-date special offers.

Affordable Cord Blood
Booking fee: £325
Final balance: £565
Total: £890
Annual storage fee: £145 per annum

Smart Plan Cord Blood
Booking fee: £325
Final balance: £2025
Total: £2350
Annual storage fee: £60 per annum

Pre-Paid Plan Cord Blood– (25 years storage pre-paid)
Our ‘Pre-Paid’ package includes a 20% discount on the 25 years’ worth of storage fees.
Booking fee: £325
Final balance: £3075
Total: £3400

Payment Plan Cord Blood
Smart Cells offer all customers the opportunity to spread the final balance on a payment plan. Customers can spread costs over 3, 6 or 12 months and there are no additional fees to do this.

Affordable Cord Blood & Tissue
Booking fee: £325
Final balance: £765
Total: £1090
Annual storage fee: £245 per annum

Smart Plan Cord Blood & Tissue
Booking fee: £325
Final balance: £2725
Total: £3050
Annual storage fee: £120 per annum

Pre-Paid Plan Cord Blood & Tissue – (25 years storage pre-paid)
Our ‘Pre-Paid’ package includes a 20% discount on the 25 years’ worth of storage fees.
Booking fee: £325
Final balance: £5075
Total: £5400

Additional Services

Neuro Assistance is a unique and exclusive programme offered by FamiCord in partnership with the University Children’s Hospital in Lublin, Poland. It provides access to autologous (own) cord blood treatments for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or cerebral palsy (CP). If, God forbid, your child required therapy for either CP or ASD, the Neuro Assistance add on would cover enrolment, administration and testing required for programme, as well as treatment costs. The price of the neuro-assistance add on is a one off payment of £195.