7 March 2007
Virgin Health Bank at The Baby Show, ExCel - Stand J36
Learn all about umbilical cord blood stem cell banking with the world’s first dual - private and public – bank, at The Baby Show, ExCel.
Attend “Ask the Expert” sessions on stand with Dr Mark Porter and Dr Donald Gibb.
A growing number of parents are storing their child’s cord blood stem cells wholly privately for two main reasons; firstly in the hope that they could be used, should their child suffer with conditions such as leukaemia. Secondly, to ensure their child’s stem cells are always available to them, for possible future regenerative medicine treatments.
But the chances of a child ever needing its own stem cells for treatment in their early years are really very small, estimates range from 1 in 5,000 to 1 in 20,000. The reality is that children suffering from illnesses such as leukaemia are more likely to need healthy donated cells (not their own) so wholly privately banked stem cells are very unlikely to help. Added to this is the unfortunate fact that there is a global shortage of matched stem cells for those who need for life-saving treatments today.
That’s why Virgin Health Bank has designed a dual - private and public – bank. For the first time ever, parents in the UK have the opportunity to store their child’s stem cells both privately and publicly. With dual banking, parents have the best of both worlds. They will always have their child’s stem cells available for the future possibilities of regenerative medicine, and they will increase the number of matched stem cells available, for anyone who needs them for treatments today, including their own family.
Visitors to the Virgin Health Bank stand at the Baby Show can learn all about exciting future possibilities of potential benefits offered by umbilical cord blood stem cells, hear about life saving treatments that are taking place today using those cells, and talk to experts about the practicalities of cord blood collection.
The BBC’s Dr Mark Porter will be on the stand on Saturday afternoon, answering people’s questions about pregnancy health and childcare. He will also be sharing his thoughts on stem cell banking. “Stem cells hold a lot of promise,” says Dr Porter, “storing your child's umbilical cord blood stem cells is a bit like taking out an insurance policy which you hope you never have to claim on. As yet there is, of course, no guarantee that the cord blood will be of any help if you do, but it could save your child's life.”
On Sunday afternoon Dr Donald Gibb, obstetrician and founder of the Birth Company, will available to discuss his experiences with parents who have chosen to store their baby’s stem cells. Dr Gibb has seen the number of parents looking to bank stem cells increase over the past few years. He says: “For several years now, I’ve made my patients aware of the possibility of banking stem cells when their child is born, and I would say roughly 20 per cent do so.” He believes that this is likely to increase in the future.
Andy Davis, CEO of Virgin Health Bank, said: “We are delighted to be attending the Baby Show as we know that many parents-to-be have a lot of questions about the benefits of storing their baby’s stem cells and we certainly have the experts available to answer their queries.”
Parents wishing to learn more about Virgin Health Bank should visit stand J36 or call 0845 620 9665.