Cord Tissue vs. Cord Blood

There are four primary sources of stem cells that are only available just after a baby is born: cord blood from the umbilical cord, cord blood from the placenta, cord tissue, and placenta tissue. The type of stem cells that exist in cord blood from the umbilical cord and cord blood from the placenta are called hematopoietic stem cells. The type of stem cells that exist in the cord tissue and placenta tissue are called mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Research has indicated that MSCs hold the promise of being able to someday treat debilitating conditions such as heart disease, type 1 diabetes, lung cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, and injuries to bones and cartilage. While MSCs are not currently being used for medical therapies, they are the subject of over 200 clinical trials. Banking MSCs gives your baby and your family the opportunity to take advantage of future medical discoveries.