Cord Blood Awareness Month – Jul. 1, 2026

Cord Blood Awareness Month
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Cord Blood Awareness Month dedicates every July to educating the public and raising awareness about the vital importance of cord blood. Derived from the placenta and umbilical cord, this unique blood and tissue contains powerful stem cells capable of treating numerous diseases. Learn about its life-saving potential, explore banking options, and discover how you can contribute to this critical medical resource.

Want to sponsor Cord Blood Awareness Month? Learn how

Expected Cord Blood Awareness Month Deals

Throughout Cord Blood Awareness Month, the focus shifts from commercial deals to vital fundraising and educational initiatives. Organizations like the Cord Blood Association and the National Cord Blood Program (NCBP) partner with healthcare providers and research institutions to host webinars, informational sessions, and donation drives. Expect hospitals and private cord blood banks, such as Cordlife or ViaCord, to offer special enrollment incentives for families considering banking. Many advocacy groups also run social media campaigns, often supported by corporate partners like GE Healthcare or Thermo Fisher Scientific, encouraging donations and sharing patient success stories. We will update this page with confirmed live events and awareness campaigns as July approaches.

Platform Guide for Cord Blood Awareness Month

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #CordBloodAwarenessMonth. Share educational infographics and patient stories to inspire action.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #CordBloodAwarenessMonth. Participate in live Q&A sessions with experts and share research findings.

LinkedIn

Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #CordBloodAwarenessMonth. Highlight professional insights from medical researchers and healthcare leaders.

Social Media Tips for Cord Blood Awareness Month

Individuals

If expecting, research cord blood banking options or consider donating to a public bank. Share educational posts with friends and family to spread the word about its life-saving potential.

Creators

Produce short, informative videos explaining what cord blood is and its medical uses. Interview healthcare professionals or share personal stories (with consent) of families who have benefited from cord blood transplants.

Brands

Healthcare brands, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies can launch awareness campaigns, sponsor research, or host educational events. Partner with advocacy groups to amplify messaging and encourage public engagement.

Organizations & Brands for Cord Blood Awareness Month

  1. Cord Blood Association

    Founded in 2014, the Cord Blood Association (CBA) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the entire cord blood field. It promotes research, clinical application, and public awareness of cord blood banking and therapies. The CBA represents both public and private banks, researchers, and clinicians.

  2. National Cord Blood Program (NCBP)

    Established in 1993, the NCBP at the New York Blood Center is one of the oldest and largest public cord blood banks in the world. It collects, processes, stores, and distributes cord blood units for transplantation, contributing significantly to global stem cell therapy research and patient access.

  3. ViaCord

    Founded in 1993, ViaCord is a leading private cord blood and tissue banking company based in Massachusetts. It offers families the option to store their baby's cord blood and tissue for potential future medical use, providing a valuable resource for personalized medicine.

  4. Cryo-Cell International

    Established in 1989, Cryo-Cell International was the first private cord blood bank in the world. Headquartered in Florida, it specializes in the collection, processing, and cryopreservation of umbilical cord blood and cord tissue stem cells for families globally, holding numerous patents in the field.

  5. GE Healthcare

    A global leader in medical technology and diagnostics, GE Healthcare provides vital equipment and solutions used in cord blood processing and storage. Their innovations support the infrastructure necessary for advanced stem cell therapies, contributing to the efficiency and safety of cord blood banking.

  6. Thermo Fisher Scientific

    Thermo Fisher Scientific is a world leader in serving science, providing a wide range of products and services essential for cord blood research and clinical applications. Their technologies are used in everything from cell culture and purification to cryopreservation and genomic analysis, empowering advancements in regenerative medicine.

  7. Be the Match

    Operated by the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), Be the Match connects patients with life-saving bone marrow and cord blood donors. While primarily known for marrow, they also facilitate cord blood transplants, supporting research and providing resources for patients and families seeking stem cell therapies.

Cord Blood Awareness Month Hero

Dr. Hal Broxmeyer

Dr. Hal Broxmeyer (1944-2021) was a pioneering scientist whose research significantly advanced the field of cord blood transplantation. His groundbreaking work in the 1980s demonstrated the presence of hematopoietic stem cells in umbilical cord blood, paving the way for the first successful human cord blood transplant in 1988. His dedication transformed cord blood from a discarded biological material into a vital medical resource, offering new hope for patients with blood disorders and cancers.

History of Cord Blood Awareness Month

Did you know there are about four million births in the U.S. each year? With so many babies being born, the hospitals must have a large amount of cord blood saved, right? Wrong! While the statistics for birth may be high, cord blood is collected only 5–10% of the time. The rest of the time, it is discarded as medical waste. This is mostly because of a lack of awareness regarding cord blood procedures, as well as the benefits it can provide for mankind. This is why July was declared Cord Blood Awareness Month by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

Though the umbilical cord blood stem cells were discovered in 1978, the first transplant did not happen until 1988. From there, the medical history as we know it completely evolved. Doctors became more aware of the uses of cord blood and began to research the diseases it can cure, which include leukemia, blood diseases, Alzheimer’s, as well as immune disorders. It was also discovered that cord blood was more effective than a bone marrow transplant — therefore it’s not a surprise that more and more people are opting for cord blood transplants every year.

As clinical trials continue to find out more benefits of cord blood and the diseases it can help heal, the popularity of the transplant continues to surge. In fact, athletes such as Rafael Nadal and football legends such as Christiano Ronaldo and David Beckham have opted for umbilical cord stem cells to treat sports injuries.

Cord Blood Awareness Month timeline

1988
The First Transplant in Paris

The first successful cord blood transplant is performed in Paris.

1992
The First Bank

Dr. Pablo Rubinstein establishes the first umbilical cord bank .

1998
Donate Now

The National Marrow Donor Program launches the cord blood program.

2012
The Transplant Diaries

Over 30,000 cord blood transplants are performed.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Cord Blood Awareness Month

Local businesses, especially those in healthcare, wellness, or family services, can participate in Cord Blood Awareness Month by hosting educational workshops or distributing informational materials. Pediatric clinics and birthing centers can offer free consultations on cord blood banking options. Pharmacies and health food stores can display posters and brochures from organizations like the Cord Blood Association. Online businesses can run social media campaigns, sharing facts about cord blood and linking to reputable public donation sites or private banking resources, emphasizing the life-saving potential for families.

Cord Blood Awareness Month FAQs

When is Cord Blood Awareness Month?

Cord Blood Awareness Month 2026 runs throughout July, from Wednesday, July 1, to Friday, July 31. This dedicated period highlights the critical role of cord blood in medical treatments and research.

How many diseases can cord blood treat?

Cord blood stem cells are currently approved to treat over 80 life-threatening diseases, including various cancers, blood disorders, immune deficiencies, and metabolic diseases. This number continues to grow as research expands into new therapeutic applications.

How many cord blood units are stored globally?

Globally, public cord blood banks hold over 800,000 units available for transplant, with millions more stored in private banks. This vast inventory provides a crucial resource for patients worldwide who require stem cell therapies.

What is the difference between public and private cord blood banking?

Public cord blood banking involves donating your baby’s cord blood for use by any patient in need, similar to a blood donation, with no cost to the family. Private banking, however, is a paid service where families store cord blood exclusively for their own family’s potential future use.

How to Celebrate Cord Blood Awareness Month

  1. Volunteer at the hospital

    To be a part of the process of a cord blood transplant, volunteer at a hospital where there is a cord blood bank. This will help you understand the procedure and the problems linked to it.

  2. Form your own campaign

    Write something, design a poster, or post on social media — the purpose is to speak about cord blood and spread awareness.

  3. Host a webinar

    Research about cord blood transplants and host a webinar on it. The information you provide may be of great help for people suffering from numerous diseases that can be treated with cord blood and can be enlightening for pregnant women.

5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know About Cord Blood

  1. It treats many diseases

    Cord blood can treat nearly 80 diseases.

  2. Number of transplants

    40,000 cord blood transplants have been performed worldwide.

  3. Cord blood samples in storage

    There are over four million samples in storage across the world.

  4. Success rate

    Cord blood transplants have a 100% success rate.

  5. It’s pain-free

    Cord blood is collected by cutting the umbilical cord, so it’s painless to obtain it.

Why Cord Blood Awareness Month is Important

  1. It highlights the importance of cord blood

    The month brings to light the importance of cord blood, its advantages, and how it can be utilized to eliminate several diseases.

  2. It encourages donors

    The awareness month also encourages donors to donate cord blood by emphasizing how painless the procedure is.

  3. It educates people

    Cord Blood Awareness Month educates people regarding several existing diseases, as well as the discoveries by science that led to the usage of cord blood as a cure.

Cord Blood Awareness Month dates

Year Date Day
2026 July 1 Wednesday
2027 July 1 Thursday
2028 July 1 Saturday
2029 July 1 Sunday
2030 July 1 Monday