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Transplant stories

Real Treatments. Real Families. Real Hope.

Smart Cells was the first private UK stem cell bank to release samples for transplant — proving that family cord blood banking is not just about storage, but about delivering real therapies when they are needed most.

Why Stem Cell Transplants Matter

At some point in life, your child or family member may need access to stem cell therapy. Today, these treatments are being used for:

  • Blood cancers such as leukaemia and lymphoma
  • Inherited genetic disorders including thalassemia and sickle cell disease
  • Neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy and brain injury
  • Immune deficiencies and metabolic disorders
  • Emerging therapies for sports injuries, inflammatory conditions, and skin repair

By preserving your baby’s umbilical cord blood and tissue, you safeguard access to these life-saving and life-enhancing possibilities.

Proven Track Record

Smart Cells has released more stem cell samples for treatment than any other private UK bank, with a 100% success rate for every sample delivered to clinicians worldwide.

These samples have helped children and families across the globe face illnesses such as:

  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Thalassemia
  • Leukaemia
  • HSV Encephalitis
  • Immune system disorders

Each transplant is more than a statistic — it represents a child given new options, and a family given hope.

A Milestone for Families and for Science

Every successful release shows how far the field of stem cell research has advanced. What was once only a possibility is now a proven therapy.

Yet many parents are still unaware of the benefits of storing their baby’s cord blood and tissue. Smart Cells is working to change that — by raising awareness, sharing real transplant stories, and supporting research into the next generation of regenerative treatments.

Powered by FamiCord: Europe’s Stem Cell Leader in banking and use of cells

As part of the FamiCord Group, Europe’s largest family stem cell bank and one of the world’s top three:

  • Families gain access to 1,000,000+ stored cord blood units across the network
  • Therapies are supported by specialist research centres and clinical teams in 35+ countries including FamiCord Programme for brain disorders
  • FamiCordTx, the group’s advanced therapies division, is actively developing new cell-based treatments to extend the possibilities for families everywhere

Together, Smart Cells and FamiCord stand at the forefront of innovation, offering parents confidence today — and hope for tomorrow.

FamiCord Group releases

Patients

7800+

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No. Source Source type Diagnosis Medical sector Year of application Therapy Country Age of the recipient
8801 Apheresis Autologous Plasmacytoma Hematology 2008 Standard Therapy Germany 60
8802 Apheresis Autologous Plasmacytoma Hematology 2008 Standard Therapy Germany 67
8803 Apheresis Autologous Plasmacytoma Hematology 2008 Standard Therapy Germany 68
8804 Apheresis Autologous Plasmacytoma Hematology 2008 Standard Therapy Germany 57
8805 Apheresis Autologous Plasmacytoma Hematology 2008 Standard Therapy Germany 62
8806 Apheresis Autologous Plasmacytoma Hematology 2008 Standard Therapy Germany 63
8807 Apheresis Autologous Plasmacytoma Hematology 2008 Standard Therapy Germany 66
8808 Apheresis Allogeneic Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia Hematology 2008 Standard Therapy Germany 71
8809 Apheresis Allogeneic Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia Hematology 2008 Standard Therapy Germany 53
8810 Apheresis Allogeneic Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia Hematology 2008 Standard Therapy Germany 55
8811 Apheresis Allogeneic Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia Hematology 2008 Standard Therapy Germany 65
8812 Apheresis Allogeneic Severe Aplastic Anemia Hematology 2008 Standard Therapy Germany 29
8813 Apheresis Allogeneic T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia Hematology 2008 Standard Therapy Germany 38
8814 Apheresis Autologous T-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Hematology 2008 Standard Therapy Germany 28
8815 Apheresis Autologous T-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Relapse Hematology 2008 Standard Therapy Germany 21
8816 Cord Blood Allogeneic – Related Neuroblastoma Hematology 2007 Standard Therapy Poland 8
8817 Cord Blood Allogeneic – Related SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency) Hematology 2007 Standard Therapy Portugal 1
8818 Cord Blood Allogeneic – Related Thalassemia Hematology 2007 Standard Therapy UK 7
8819 Bone Marrow Family Allogeneic Acute Myeloid Leukemia Hematology 2007 Standard Therapy Germany 68
8820 Bone Marrow Allogeneic Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) Hematology 2007 Standard Therapy Germany 38
8821 Apheresis Allogeneic Aplastic Anemia Hematology 2007 Standard Therapy Germany 49
8822 Apheresis Allogeneic Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Hematology 2007 Standard Therapy Germany 57
8823 Apheresis Autologous Myocardial Infarction Hematology 2007 Standard Therapy Germany 61
8824 Apheresis Autologous Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Hematology 2007 Standard Therapy Germany 57
8825 Cord Blood Allogeneic – Related Aplastic Anemia Hematology 2005 Standard Therapy Germany 5
8826 Cord Blood Autologous Brain Damage Neurology 2005 Experimental Therapy Germany 1
8827 Cord Blood Allogeneic – Related Leukemia Hematology 2005 Standard Therapy UK no data
8828 Cord Blood Allogeneic – Related Thalassemia Hematology 2005 Standard Therapy UK 4
8829 Cord Blood Autologous Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Hematology 2004 Standard Therapy Germany 3
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Stem cell transplantation has become an established procedure

700,000

cord blood collections have been undertaken globally

50,000

hematopoietic stem cell transplants take place every year

400/500

of these transplants are in Europe

Our transplant stories

Smart Cells have released 24 UK
samples to six countries.

Stem cells hold the key to more than 80 life-changing treatments, with clinical trials underway on many more. Replacing damaged cells and tissue, they can even save a child’s life.

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100% infusion success rate

For samples released for transplant.

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3 months – 12 yrs old

Stored cord blood samples have been successfully released for use in transplant for children aged as little as 3 months to 12 years old.

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46% self | 54% siblings

Smart Cells have successfully released stored cord blood samples that have been used for treatment with the child it was collected from and also siblings.

Smart Cells releases

UK samples released

24

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Sample release date Medical condition Recipient relationship Age of the recipient Unit volume Medical center Country
2005.11 Thalassemia Allogeneic (Sibling) 4 Years 144ml Mount Vernon Hospital Singapore
2005.11 Leukaemia Allogeneic (Sibling) Restricted Restricted Stem Cells and Immunology Department, Birmingham UK
2007.02 Thalassemia Allogeneic (Sibling) 7 Years 76ml Kinderlink der Tu Munchen Germany
2009.08 Cerebral Palsy Autologous (Self) 3 Years 51ml Duke University, North Carolina USA
2010.01 Cerebral Palsy Autologous (Self) 3 Years 81ml Duke University, North Carolina USA
2013.10 Thalassemia Allogeneic (Sibling) 5 Years 58ml Catherine Lewis Centre, Hammersmith UK
2014.01 Leukaemia Allogeneic (Sibling) 4 Years 71ml Medizinische Hochschule, Hanover Germany
2014.05 Cerebral Palsy Autologous (Self) 1 year 68ml Duke University, North Carolina USA
2014.06 HSV Encephalitis & NMDA Receptor Antibody Virus Autologous (Self) 2 Years 57ml Duke University, North Carolina USA
2014.08 Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) Autologous (Self) 3 Months 39ml Duke University, North Carolina USA
2015.02 Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) Autologous (Self) 6 Months 53ml Duke University, North Carolina USA
2015.03 Severe Combined Immune Deficiency Autologous (Self) 3 Months 74ml Duke University, North Carolina USA
2015.03 Sickle Cell Disease Allogeneic (Sibling) 2 .5 Years 57ml BLK Hospital, New Delhi India
2015.11 Thalassemia Allogeneic (Sibling) 12 Years 87ml Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC USA
2016.03 Cerebral Palsy Allogeneic (Sibling) 6 Years 101ml Duke University, North Carolina USA
2017.04 Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (^1) N/A (Identical twin girls) Restricted 125ml Bambin Gesu Childrens’ Hospital, Rome Italy
2017.06 Cerebral Palsy Autologous (Self) 7 Years 82ml Duke University, North Carolina USA
2017.06 Cerebral Palsy Autologous (Self) 3.4 Years 132ml Duke University, North Carolina USA
2018.03 Autism Autologous (Self) 5.4 Years 73ml Duke University, North Carolina USA
2018.03 Cerebral Palsy Autologous (Self) 3.4 years 132ml Duke University, North Carolina USA
2019.06 Cerebral Palsy Allogeneic (Sibling) 3 Years 104ml Duke University, North Carolina USA
2022.02 Cerebral Palsy Allogeneic (Sibling) 11 Years 185ml Duke University, North Carolina USA
2023.08 Cerebral Palsy Allogeneic (Sibling) 3 Years 46ml Duke University, North Carolina USA
2024.01 Thalassaemia Allogeneic (Sibling) 8 Years 45ml Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center USA
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