With such a high birth rate, you might expect that cord blood banking is a widely adopted practice. Surprisingly, that's not the case. Instead, cord blood is often discarded as medical waste.
Why is this happening?
The primary reason is a lack of awareness. Many parents simply don’t know about the procedure for collecting cord blood or the incredible benefits it can offer. Cord blood stem cells have the unique ability to help treat over 80 serious medical conditions, including:
- Leukaemia and other blood-related cancers
Cord blood isn’t just valuable for the child it came from. It can also be used for siblings and close family members, offering a potential lifeline in the future.
Cord blood and Cerebral Palsy
Cord blood therapy continues to show great promise as an effective and safe therapy option for children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). It contains various stem and immune cells that are being tested to support the treatment of brain injuries, such as CP. It’s the most researched cell therapy for people with CP, with clinical trials spanning 20 years.
In 2025, a major international research analysis confirmed the safety and potential benefit of cord blood treatment for some children with CP. Drawing on global data, this study marks an important step in expanding treatment access and strengthening clinical confidence in the approach.
While there are many therapies and medical interventions that help manage the symptoms of CP, there are currently limited therapies that treat the underlying brain injury that causes CP. Cord blood therapy stands out as a safe and effective intervention, especially when combined with appropriate rehabilitative therapies.
July is Cord Blood Awareness Month
To highlight the importance of this underutilised medical resource, July has been declared Cord Blood Awareness Month, celebrated globally to educate parents and health professionals alike.
While umbilical cord blood stem cells were first discovered in 1978, the first successful transplant only happened a decade later in 1988. Since then, medical research and applications have advanced rapidly. Clinical trials continue to uncover new uses for cord blood, and its role in regenerative medicine is expanding every year.
As awareness grows, so does the interest in preserving this powerful biological tool. Cord blood banking is more than a trend - it’s a decision that could change lives.
Take the first step
Interested in learning more about how to store your baby’s cord blood and tissue? Visit Next Biosciences at: https://nextbio.co.za/divisions/patients/biobank/netcells
or
Contact our team for personalised guidance and support: netcells@nextbio.co.za, Tel: +27(0)11 697 2900, Cell: +27(0)84 664 4646