Background

• The Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005, HR 2520, became law on December 20, 2005.
• The act will increase the inventory of cord blood stem cells accessible to the public by 150,000 units before 2009, which creates the possibility of matching unrelated stem cells to more than 90 percent of patients in need.
• It will establish a searchable network of cord blood banks, allowing physicians to search for matches for their patients quickly and effectively.
• Based on a study conducted by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), expectant parents will be provided fair and balanced information about their option to save newborn stem cells or donate them to a public bank.
• It committed $79 million to create a unified National Cord Blood Stem Cell Banking program.
• Cord blood stem cells are used in the treatment of more than 70 diseases ranging from lymphoma and leukemia to sickle cell anemia.

Who Will Benefit from the Legislation?

• Patients in need, especially minorities or people from mixed ethnic heritage are far more likely to find a matching transplant than ever before, both through the 150,000 new units available publicly, and through efforts to educate parents about private banking.

What is the Current Status of the Act?

• The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently awarded $12 million to a group of public umbilical cord blood banks to begin collections for the National Cord Blood Inventory (NCBI).


• The goal of the NCBI is to collect an inventory of 150,000 new units of high quality cord blood collected from diverse populations, including minority populations, which historically have been the least able to find a suitable matched bone marrow donor.


• HRSA plans a second round of competitive contracts to increase the national inventory early in 2007.