U of U Article

Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplant

Newborn infants no longer need their umbilical cords, so they have traditionally been discarded as a by-product of the birth process. In recent years, however, the multipotent-stem-cell-rich blood found in the umbilical cord has proven useful in treating the same types of health problems as those treated using bone marrow stem cells and PBSCs.

Umbilical cord blood stem cell transplants are less prone to rejection than either bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells. This is probably because the cells have not yet developed the features that can be recognized and attacked by the recipient's immune system. Also, because umbilical cord blood lacks well-developed immune cells, there is less chance that the transplanted cells will attack the recipient's body, a problem called graft versus host disease.

Both the versatility and availability of umbilical cord blood stem cells makes them a potent resource for transplant therapies.

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/stemcells/sctoday/

Article from WebMD on Umbilical Cord Stem Cells

Umbilical cord blood stem cells

Umbilical cord blood stem cells are harvested from umbilical cord blood after a baby is born. Harvest does not affect the care of the baby or the mother.

Umbilical cord stem cells are less likely to result in graft-versus-host disease after a transplant. In this disease, the newly transplanted cells may destroy the other cells in the host's body because the cells do not match the others well enough.

Harvesting umbilical cord blood stem cells

Umbilical cord blood is drawn from the umbilical cord and placenta after the cord has been clamped and cut. Although stem cells are concentrated in cord blood, few cells are collected because the total amount of blood is small. The stem cells are usually frozen for later use.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

My vision for Public Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Banking

   For several years I have wanted to start a public stem cell bank for umbilical cord stem cell. It seems to me that with so many babies being born each year that this seems a wasted "resource". Most people can't afford to privately store their children's stem cells. Until I saw a similar organization on the news last year I couldn't find a single thing about public banking. Why isn't this more public knowledge and whats holding this country back from supporting this type of banking?

The short version of my idea is basically this:
All hospitals would offer to pregnant mothers the option to donate their child's umbilical cord sales. Since most people won't need these cells they would be available to those who did and for research. If later in life these families need the use of stem cells the would have top priority. If the majority of mothers donated the babies umbilical stem cells (in theory) the diversity of these cells should provide better matches for those who need them as well as an ample supply for researchers to make further advances in finding cures. Hospitals could work in association with universities.

I think this is a realistic solution to not using embryonic stem cells and a way for many families to contribute to finding cures as well as having access to those treatments.