Cryo-CellInternational(Oldsmar, Florida) said that it is endorsing proposed federal legislation to create a National Cord Blood Stem Cell Program. TheInstitute of Medicine(IOM; Washington), an agency ofThe National Academies, recently released a report supporting federal funding to build an inventory of high-quality cord blood units for use in stem cell transplantation.

If enacted, funding could provide for upwards of 100,000 additional units of donated cord blood to be potentially used in allogeneic (non-family related) transplants. The IOM report also recommends establishment of a policy board to adopt more rigorous quality standards with respect to cord blood products.

Cryo-Cell said it believes that the IOM report underscores the message that it has been delivering to clinicians and expectant parents “for well over a decade – that cord blood stem cells save lives.”