Stem Cells

Stem Cell and Immunotherapies comprise the NHS Cord Blood Bank and seven specialist facilities for bone marrow processing and storage. SCI supports over 50% of all stem cell transplants in England through its national network of facilities.

The NHS Cord Blood Bank holds over 16,500 units and is the fourth largest internationally accredited cord blood bank in the world.

In 2010/11:

• The UK Stem cell Strategic Form report published in December 2010, commissioned by the Department of Health and led by NHSBT, set out a strategy to save an additional 200 lives year. The report recommended increasing the number of umbilical cord blood units banked in the UK and improving the performance of UK based stem cell registries.

Key findings revealed the need to significantly decrease the time it takes to identify suitably matched unrelated donors accessible to all NHS patients with the UK working towards a target of 50,000 banked cord blood units. The report also recommended collaborative working with Anthony Nolan to better engage with potential stem cell donors. The Government granted an additional £4m of funding to NHSBT and Anthony Nolan to improve patient services.