AABB2025: Cord Blood Field Has Myriad Growth Opportunities

The cord blood field is poised to take advantage of various new growth opportunities, said Heather Brown, MS, from CooperSurgical.

Brown, speaking at the Cord Blood Connect session titled “Defining Novel Growth Opportunities for the Cord Blood Field: Lessons Learned and Pathways Forward,” held on Sunday afternoon, emphasized that there are several avenues that cord blood facilities can explore to expand their portfolios and set themselves up for potential growth.

“Facilities can expand their core offerings and store more products,” Brown said, noting that many cord blood facilities are now storing many products beyond cord blood, including cord tissue, placenta, dental pulp, exosomes and others.

Brown also suggested facilities should explore hybrid banking. “Facilities can consider the value proposition of public-private partnership models,” she said. She added that supplying biologic materials is another potential avenue for expansion. “Some facilities are becoming a supplier as a birth tissue procurement organization,” Brown said.

Many facilities throughout the world that began as a cord blood bank only have since expanded into other biobanking. “Consider the many opportunities in biobanking,” Brown said. “For example: stem cells. Facilities can provide innovations in cryopreservation, stem cell expansion and data management to improve storage quality and operational efficiency.” Brown also noted opportunities in related markets, including sperm and egg banking, and solid tissue banking.

Finally, Brown suggested facilities can expand to also offer genetic testing. “Newborn screening is a potential offering,” Brown said. “Facilities can use newer technology to supplement mandated newborn screening.” She also suggested facilities offer specialized genetic testing for prenatal population.