By Mikaela VanMoorleghem, Education and Training Coordinator, Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy
WMDA-NetCord & FACT Event at Inaugural Cord Blood Connect International Congress Was a Success!
The WMDA and FACT co-hosted a cord blood day at the 2018 Cord Blood Connect International Congress in Miami, Florida. Over 50 members of the cord blood community from fourteen countries, joined the WMDA and FACT on September 14, 2018, for a cord blood workshop day. The day included major topics such as global perspectives of cord blood transplants, ethical dilemmas in cord blood banking, common FACT-NetCord accreditation citations, and an overview of the WMDA cord blood bank survey. The afternoon consisted of two breakout sessions: a FACT inspector training track and a WMDA-NetCord & FACT cord blood quality boot camp track.
The WMDA and FACT were honored to have Dr. Eliane Gluckman in attendance at the WMDA-NetCord & FACT Cord Blood Day. She performed the first successful human umbilical cord blood transplant and, with colleague Hal Broxmeyer, PhD, successfully demonstrated that unrelated cord blood could be used as a source of hematopoietic stem cells. Dr. Gluckman received the first Cord Blood Association (CBA) Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating the 30th anniversary of that event.
In addition to the WMDA-NetCord & FACT cord blood day, FACT welcomed visitors to its exhibit booth, conducted a Seventh Edition Cord Blood Standards Committee meeting, and a regenerative medicine meeting in which panelists described current challenges based on their professional perspectives. Meeting attendees discussed current efforts to address gaps in efforts, potential strategies, and how accreditation may help.
All events were successful and FACT looks forward to the next Cord Blood Connect International Congress September 13-15, 2019, in Miami Beach!
FACT Accreditation Portal Launch Date Set for October 1
It’s here! Mark your calendars for the upcoming launch of the new FACT Accreditation Portal. Effective October 1st, all new applications will be generated in the new portal.
Wow! Okay, what do I need to do?
Nothing, we will create user accounts for your Organization Director and Primary Contact. The new portal will issue an email notification when your new application is created. At that time, you will need to reset your password to gain access to your account.
I already have an application in the old portal. Will I have to start over?
For applicants that are currently working on applications in the legacy FACTWeb portal, you will complete your application in FACTWeb. However, the next application in your accreditation cycle (annual, renewal, or compliance application) will be in the new FACT Accreditation Portal.
What do I need to do to prepare?
To prepare, register for the monthly portal training sessions available on the FACT Calendar, http://www.factwebsite.org/Events/, and begin reviewing the training materials available in the Portal Resource Center, www.factwebsite.org/portal.
I would like to get into the portal now. Does this mean I can login on October 1?
Unfortunately, no. Your coordinators will be creating accounts for each organization as their application creation date approaches. It is best to wait for notification from your coordinator that your application has been created.
For more information about the launch, see our Launch Updates and FAQs at www.factwebsite.org/launch
FACT Webinar: Defining, Assessing, and Documenting Cord Blood Warming Events
A temperature above -150°C may be considered a warming event. Because unit volumes are small and frozen in bags with large surface areas, their thermal kinetics are greatly affected by their environment. Join Phillip Johnson MMedSc(Path), BAppSc(MedSc), Production Manager at Queensland Cord Blood Bank at the Mater, for a presentation regarding methods used to define, assess, and document cord blood warming events.
View meeting details and register