You have a lot to protect, bank more than cord blood.

Our Founder's Story: An Insight Born of Personal Experience

It was during a rotation in obstetrics at Cornell University Medical College that Dr. Robert Hariri - neurosurgeon, biomedical visionary, and stem cell pioneer-first became intrigued by the placenta, the organ that provides nutrients and life-sustaining oxygen to the fetus. But it wasn't until he was about to become a father that he would see the link between this organ and his life's work.

"My wife was pregnant with our first child," he recalls. "I remember looking at the ultrasound and being struck by the fact that the placenta had already developed into a full organ, even though it was very early in the development of our baby. It occurred to me that the placenta might be an excellent source for large quantities of immature stem cells."

Dr. Hariri became determined to transform the potential of placental stem cells into a clinical reality. He dedicated himself to building a company - LifebankUSA - that would bank both cord blood and placenta-derived stem cells. Today, the company he started is the only one that collects and stores cells from both sources.

"LifebankUSA is a pioneer in placenta-stem cell technology...Our stem cell banking program meets and strives to exceed the highest standards in the industry-and we are the only company that can provide access to technology that allows you to boost the number of cells you can recover after birth."
-Robert Hariri, MD, PhD
CEO and Founder of LifebankUSA

Dr. Robert Hariri was awarded his MD and PhD degrees from Cornell University Medical College in New York, NY, and received his surgical training at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Hariri has been extensively published in leading medical and scientific publications, and in 2006, he was awarded the Thomas Alva Edison Award for his achievements related to placental stem cell collection.

Today, the company he started is the only one that collects and stores cells from both sources and offers tissue banking.