Umbilical Cord Tissue Stem Cells
What Are Umbilical Cord Tissue Stem Cells?
Umbilical cord tissue stem cells are mesenchymal stem cells sourced from the inner layer of the umbilical cord following a healthy, full-term birth. The cord itself contains a gelatinous connective tissue known as Wharton’s jelly, and this tissue is one of the richest known reservoirs of mesenchymal stem cells, or MSCs, available for regenerative use.
Mesenchymal stem cells are the same class of cell that makes adipose and bone marrow such valuable sources for regenerative medicine. MSCs are multipotent, which means a single cell has the capacity to differentiate into the specialized cells that build bone, cartilage, tendon, ligament, muscle, and nerve tissue. They also self-renew and multiply, and they release signaling molecules that direct the behavior of the cells already living in the procedure area. That signaling role is often the most important part of what an MSC does. MSCs recruit the body’s own repair machinery, modulate inflammatory activity, and support the formation of new blood supply in the tissue being treated while offering the actual regeneration of damaged cells.
At Axis Stem Cell Institute, umbilical cord tissue joins adipose-derived stem cells and bone marrow stem cells as part of a full regenerative toolkit. The right source depends on your condition, your age, your goals, and the tissue being targeted, and that determination is made during your consultation.
How Is Umbilical Cord Tissue Collected?
This is the point where umbilical cord tissue differs most clearly from the other mesenchymal sources we use.
Adipose-derived stem cells require a small lipoaspiration procedure to obtain a sample of your own fat tissue. Bone marrow stem cells require an aspiration from the iliac crest. Both are efficient, well-tolerated, same-day procedures, and both produce excellent results. Umbilical cord tissue, however, requires no collection procedure from you at all.
The tissue is donated. Following a scheduled, full-term, healthy delivery, the umbilical cord is recovered with the written, informed consent of the mother. The cord is tissue that is otherwise discarded after birth, and the donation process has no effect whatsoever on the mother or the newborn. There is no involvement of the developing child at any point.
Every donor undergoes a comprehensive screening protocol before any tissue is accepted. This includes a detailed maternal and family medical and social history, physical examination records, and serologic and nucleic acid testing for communicable disease. Donor eligibility is documented in accordance with the standards that govern human tissue for clinical use in the United States.
Accepted tissue is then processed in a controlled laboratory environment. Wharton’s jelly is isolated from the cord in order to separate and concentrate the mesenchymal population, and characterize each lot for cell count, viability, sterility, and endotoxin screening. The tissue is then safe to release for clinical use. Our commitment to laboratory verification is the same standard we apply to every cell source we offer. We have tested numerous samples for viability and count in our own state-of-the-art laboratory facilities specifically so that our patients receive the highest level of care and the best possible outcome. You can read more about how we approach quality and process on our Why Choose Us page.
What Can I Expect During This Process?
Our procedures are performed on site at our accredited ambulatory facility by our own providers. Because the cells are donor-sourced, your procedure day is focused entirely on administration, which makes for a shorter and simpler appointment than an autologous procedure requires.
Your visit begins with a review of your imaging, your history, and the therapy plan built during your consultation. Our board-certified providers then use an image-guided technique to place the cells precisely into the target tissue. Precision matters a great deal in regenerative medicine. Cells delivered accurately into a specific disc, joint space, tendon insertion, or perineural region behave very differently from cells placed approximately. Image guidance is how we ensure the dose reaches the structure it was intended for.
Many patients receive platelet-rich plasma alongside their cell therapy. PRP is prepared from your own blood sample and provides a concentrated matrix of growth factors that supports cell activity in the procedure area. Whether PRP is appropriate for your plan is evaluated and discussed by your provider on site.
You will be comfortable and relaxed throughout, and you will go home the same day with clear instructions for a quick and easy recovery.
Bryn Renda, PA-C, leads regenerative medicine at Axis and works directly with patients through evaluation, therapy planning, and follow-up.
What Happens After Injection?
Once administered, mesenchymal stem cells begin responding to the environment of the tissue they have been placed into. They release signaling factors, modulate local inflammatory activity, support new blood vessel formation, and differentiate toward the cell types the tissue requires.
This is a biological process rather than a mechanical one, so the timeline reflects your own physiology. Everyone’s body has physiologic differences and diverse rates of healing, and your provider will set expectations specific to your condition and your procedure area during your visit. Regenerative work continues in the tissue for an extended period after the appointment itself is over, and follow-up is built into your plan so that progress can be tracked and supported.
What Are the Benefits of Umbilical Cord Stem Cells?
No collection procedure. Because the cells are donor-sourced, there is no lipoaspiration and no marrow aspiration. For patients who prefer to avoid a second procedure site, or whose therapy plan calls for a streamlined appointment, this is a meaningful advantage.
The youngest available mesenchymal cells. Cord tissue MSCs come from post birth tissue. They have not been subject to decades of accumulated cellular wear, and they retain a strong proliferative and secretory profile.
Consistent, verified dosing. Every lot is characterized in the laboratory for count, viability, and sterility before release, which means the dose you receive is a known and documented quantity.
A strong option regardless of age. Adipose retains its potency well across the lifespan, and bone marrow yield can shift over the years. Umbilical cord tissue sidesteps the question entirely, since the cells are sourced independently of the patient. This makes cord tissue a valuable option for patients addressing conditions that tend to arrive later in life.
Low immunogenicity. The limited immune signature of cord tissue MSCs is what allows these cells to be used without donor matching.
Broad applicability. Because mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into bone, cartilage, muscle, and nerve tissue, cord tissue MSCs are used across musculoskeletal conditions and injuries, autoimmune conditions, metabolic conditions including diabetes and kidney disease, and neurologic conditions.
Schedule a Consultation
At Axis Stem Cell Institute, we believe that a healthy body, mind, and lifestyle is one of the best ways to live your best life. When a condition prevents you from achieving this, we believe that stem cells can help. We seek to provide the most effective stem cell therapies using the latest in scientific research and advancement so that you have options beyond expensive surgery or constant medication. Our expert providers stay up to date on the latest stem cell research so that we can guide you through the right choices for your body and your health. You can learn more about us and about the philosophy behind our practice.
Umbilical cord tissue offers a rich, young, laboratory-verified source of mesenchymal stem cells with no collection procedure required. To schedule a consultation at our Kirkland, Washington, or St. Petersburg, Florida, office, call 206.823.0960 or fill out our online form.
Umbilical Cord Stem Cell FAQs
Are there stem cells in umbilical cord tissue?
Yes. The umbilical cord contains a rich gelatinous layer called Wharton’s jelly, which is one of the most concentrated known sources of mesenchymal stem cells. These are the same class of multipotent cells that makes adipose tissue and bone marrow valuable for regenerative therapy.
Where do umbilical cord stem cells come from?
They are donated following scheduled, full-term, healthy deliveries with the written informed consent of the mother. The umbilical cord is tissue that is otherwise discarded after birth, and the donation has no effect on the mother or the newborn.
Does umbilical cord stem cell therapy require a procedure to collect my cells?
No. Because the cells are donor-sourced, there is no lipoaspiration and no bone marrow aspiration. Your appointment is focused entirely on the administration of the cells.
Are umbilical cord stem cells screened?
Every donor completes a comprehensive screening protocol that includes detailed medical and social history, physical examination records, and serologic and nucleic acid testing for communicable disease. Each processed lot is then characterized for cell count, viability, sterility, and endotoxin before release.
Do umbilical cord stem cells need to be matched to me?
No. Mesenchymal stem cells from cord tissue carry very little of the surface marker machinery the immune system uses to identify foreign tissue, which is why they can be administered without donor-to-recipient matching.
How do umbilical cord stem cells compare to adipose and bone marrow stem cells?
All three are excellent mesenchymal sources. Adipose provides a highly concentrated dose from your own tissue and retains potency well with age. Bone marrow is the long-established source with decades of clinical use behind it. Umbilical cord tissue provides the youngest available cells with no collection procedure required. Your provider will recommend the source that fits your condition, your procedure area, and your goals.
What conditions are umbilical cord stem cells used for?
Because mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into bone, cartilage, muscle, and nerve tissue, they are applied across musculoskeletal conditions and injuries, autoimmune conditions, metabolic conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease, and neurologic conditions.
Can I combine umbilical cord stem cells with PRP?
Many patients do. Platelet-rich plasma is prepared from your own blood and supplies a concentrated matrix of growth factors that supports cell activity in the procedure area. Your provider will evaluate whether PRP belongs in your plan.
How long does it take to see results?
Regenerative activity continues in the tissue well after your appointment, and the timeline reflects your own physiology, your condition, and the tissue being treated. Your provider will set expectations specific to your plan.
Bryn Renda, PA-C is the founder and provider at Axis Stem Cell Institute and a nationally board-certified Physician Assistant specializing in regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy. A retired professional athlete, she began her career helping athletes regain pain-free mobility and function, and now works with patients pursuing whole-body wellness through a naturalistic, holistic approach. She holds national and international certifications in the extraction and application of stem cell therapies, including certification from the International Society for Stem Cell Application, and has practiced in the field for more than five years. She earned her Master of Clinical Medical Sciences and Physician Assistant degree at Barry University and holds active licenses in Washington and Florida.