Richard Branson to Launch Virgin Stem Cell Bank

Richard Branson is now expanding into yet another new frontier: Not content to be involved in everything from airplanes to spacecraft, Branson expands his universe to include a storage facility for stem cells.

Parents will be able to store blood from their babies umbilical cord, and the stem cells it contains, for future use against disease. The science behind the use of stem cells is still under development but holds great promise for the future. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists welcomed Virgin's co-operation with public banks, but said there were no guarantees of breakthroughs.

"Regenerative medicine holds great promise for future management of many diseases and cord blood stem cells might fulfill that promise if they can be expanded and grown successfully in large numbers," said Professor Peter Braude, chairman of the group's scientific advisory committee.

"So far, this has not been the case, but it may change in the future. This proposal provides a long-term insurance lottery that may or may not prove to be successful." This seems like a strange field for Branson to go into but he always has been a dreamer. Virgin might just be the most forward looking company out there. At least you can be sure he's not just in it for the money!