Umbilical cord blood banks: Modern day alchemy

Abstract

Stem cells are at the forefront of hopes for developing treatments for a range of serious diseases. The sources of those stem cells can be controversial, particularly for embryonic stem cell lines. Increasingly parents are opting to collect umbilical cord blood shortly after delivery of the baby, some to satisfy a current treatment need for stem cells and others to ‘future-proof’ their families and themselves against possible disease and preserving for themselves a potentially potent resource for future regenerative treatments. The author reviews recent and forthcoming changes in regulation of this area, potential legal problems and the implications of compliance for biotech companies within the field or who have current treatments which may benefit from collaboration with those who are in the field. The paper looks at, in particular, the legal position in the UK, and issues relating to, for example, ownership of cord blood deposits and anonymity of deposits.