Future Health Technologies received the Export Achievement Award from Medilink East Midlands, the specialist support organisation for healthcare businesses in the regions
A Nottingham-based umbilical cord blood stem cell bank is celebrating the recognition of its achievements at a recent award ceremony.
The award recognises Future Health Technologies's work in overseas markets; although the bank is based in Nottingham, FHT's purpose-built laboratory now regularly receives samples not only from the UK, but also from nine other countries, with a new agency for collections recently opened in Ireland.
FHT has seen a steady increase in demand for its service since it was set up three years ago, recently storing its 5000th sample, and is the only private cord blood stem cell bank to meet the strict standards of and be accredited by the UK Department of Health.
Presenting the awards, held at BioCity Nottingham, was Professor Charles Pasternak, director of the Oxford International Biomedical Centre.
Operations manager Mark Tooby collected the award on behalf of FHT and said: "Future Health Technologies is delighted to be recognised with this award for our overseas work.
"Our international business is just as important as the business we do in the UK as parents become increasingly aware of the potential benefits of storing stem cells taken from the umbilical cord after the birth of a child.
"Research has shown that stem cells taken from the umbilical cord can potentially be used in a whole range of medical conditions, from heart disease to multiple sclerosis and cord blood is already used routinely for the treatment of a number of diseases.
"While research is still at an early stage, it looks very promising and people are opting to store their child's cord blood as a form of insurance in case they may need to use them for future treatments".
Darren Clark, business development manager at Medilink East Midlands, said: "The business awards were part of our Bio and Pharma Innovation Day and we will be choosing an overall winner from those businesses which won awards on the day.
"This winner will go on to represent the East Midlands for a national award.
"The Innovation day was a celebration of innovation in the East Midlands and the success of companies within the region."
