Why Smart Cells?

The UK’s First Private Stem Cell Bank — Trusted for Over 25 Years

Smart Cells is the best choice for giving your child a healthy future — and giving you peace of mind.

We were the first private stem cell storage company in the UK, and for more than two decades we’ve been helping families preserve the life-saving potential of umbilical cord blood and tissue stem cells.

To date, Smart Cells has released more samples for treatment worldwide than any other UK private bank. Now part of the FamiCord Group — Europe’s largest family cord blood bank and the third largest in the world — we bring expertise from 40+ countries we operate and more than 35 years of scientific leadership.

FamiCord Group Key Facts

1,000,000+ cord blood and tissue units stored in our group
240+ cord blood transplants released to family therapy
100% success rate for UK sample releases
1,900+ cord tissue therapies performed
13+ laboratories in Europe, including our UK facility near Heathrow
Listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange – financially secure, highly resilient

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More than just a stem cell bank

Around the world, more and more parents are choosing to preserve their child’s stem cells. By leveraging FamiCord’s network, Smart Cells offers advantages that go far beyond simply storing cells – we facilitate the access for cell therapies for our clients:

Demonstrated Reach & Impact to save lives

Our Group has stored over 1,000,000 cord blood units and other biological materials and provided therapeutic cells to more than 7,000 patients globally.

Own FamiCord Cord Blood Application Programme

To use banked cord blood for neurological diseases such us cerebral palsy or autism

Strong Research & Clinical Development

With a commitment to innovation, FamiCord and its subsidiaries are at the forefront of developing advanced cell-based therapies and supporting regenerative medicine through research, trials, and clinical applications

Rigorous Quality & Regulatory Oversight

FamiCord maintains high standards: labs are accredited, operations adhere to GMP / ATMP standards, and every therapeutic application is managed under strict scientific and medical supervision

European Leadership

As the number-one stem cell bank in Europe, FamiCord operates in 35+ countries with dozens of laboratories, combining regional expertise and internationally-trusted certifications

Why Families Choose Smart Cells

Quality you can trust

• All samples are processed in controlled environments by trained technical staff.
• Rigorous Quality Assurance ensures sterility, required stem cell counts, and viable recovery.
• Our facilities are continuously monitored, alarmed, and protected by uninterruptible power supply.
• Licensed by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) and compliant with ISO standards.

Families first

• Transparent pricing with flexible payment options and a price-match guarantee.
• Support when therapy is needed
• All services clearly included from the start: phlebotomy (UK only), maternal blood testing, shipping.
• Exceptional customer service, with 24/7 dedicated phlebotomy and emergency call-out support.
• Honest data sharing on how samples have been used — no misleading claims.

Global reach, local care

Our state-of-the-art UK laboratory near Heathrow processes and stores samples with industry-standard systems in sterile conditions. With 14 further FamiCord labs across Europe, your child’s cells are always within secure, regulated facilities

Corporate Social Responsibility

We care not only about your child’s future but also about our planet. We partner with leading health researchers such as the Borne Project, and work with environmentally conscious supply chain partners. We are supporting cord blood research and therapies by cooperation with Leukemia & Myeloma Research UK charitable organisation.

Give your child the best chance possible in life. Our expert team can explain just how easy it is. They’re here to support you and talk through payment options.

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Smart Cells Laboratory

The Smart Cells Laboratory uses state-of-the-art equipment designed to process and store cord blood as quickly and optimally as possible.

All processing procedures are undertaken in a sterile, controlled environment by specially trained technical staff, using the industry standard system for cord blood processing

Quality Assurance: samples are regularly tested and validated for sterility and to ensure required stem cell counts and viable cell recovery

The facility is alarmed and has an uninterruptible power supply in case of a mains electricity failure. The environment is continually monitored by an Advanced Facilities Management System.

Smart Cells holds a licence from the Human Tissue Authority

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Accreditation

“It’s possibly the best investment you could ever make for your child. You never know what is going to happen in 10-15 year’s time.”

Carla Poppleton, Parent of transplant recipient
“It was a totally seamless experience both times, and I think it’s an absolutely incredible thing, almost futuristic when you think about the amazing things they can do.”

Vogue Williams
“Smart Cells have been nothing short of excellent. Always happy to explain things that were not immediately understood. Really put our mind at ease with regards to the whole process and the storage element as well.”

Anthony & Alyse Watson

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Transplant Stories

Customer stories

Who we work with

FAQ’s

What accreditation and quality assurance do Smart Cells have?
Smart Cells has an HTA licence which covers procurement, testing, processing, storage, import, release, and export of cord blood cells and tissue. Smart Cells 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.

The Smart Cells approach to ongoing Quality Assurance, regulatory compliance, integrity, and transparency is supported and overseen by the Scientific Director, Head of Laboratory Operations, and Quality Officer.

With 28 years of experience in stem cell transplantation in the NHS, and considerable academic and research experience, Smart Cells’ Scientific Director Dr. Ann Smith ensures Smart Cells meets best practice in the field. Her expertise is available to parents, partners, and healthcare professionals directly or via the customer services team.
What happens if Smart Cells go out of business?
Establishments licensed by the HTA are legally required to ensure that in the event of activities ceasing, any tissues/cells and records are transferred to another suitably-licensed establishment. Smart Cells is compliant with this requirement.

Why Smart Cells?

The UK’s First Private Stem Cell Bank — Trusted for Over 25 Years

FamiCord Group Key Facts

More than just a stem cell bank

Why Families Choose Smart Cells

Give your child the best chance possible in life. Our expert team can explain just how easy it is. They’re here to support you and talk through payment options.

Smart Cells Laboratory

Accreditation

“It’s possibly the best investment you could ever make for your child. You never know what is going to happen in 10-15 year’s time.”

“It was a totally seamless experience both times, and I think it’s an absolutely incredible thing, almost futuristic when you think about the amazing things they can do.”

“Smart Cells have been nothing short of excellent. Always happy to explain things that were not immediately understood. Really put our mind at ease with regards to the whole process and the storage element as well.”

Find out more

FAQ’s