A method of isolating a pluripotent cell from human umbilical cord is described herein. The method involves collecting a sample of umbilical cord from fetal tissue obtained at less than 13 weeks of gestation, for example a first trimester umbilical cord. The sample is treated to obtain isolated umbilical cord cells, after which the isolated umbilical cord cells are incubated. Cells obtained in this way can be differentiated for use in treating conditions of cell damage, by supplanting the function of a damaged cell in a condition such as spinal cord injury, cardiovascular injury or heart disease.
