Blogs

FACT June 2023 Update to ASTCT

By Dani Damario posted 06-20-2023
Strategic Plan Focuses on Increasing Patient Access to Cellular Therapy FACT regularly adopts three-year strategic plans to advance its organizational mission of promoting quality for patients in the evolving field of cellular therapy. On the heels of a worldwide pandemic and in anticipation of a burgeoning list of advanced therapies, FACT’s strategic plan is intended to strengthen and streamline its infrastructure to support accredited organizations and to expand beyond core accreditation activities to serve new stakeholders that are driving development in the cell therapy industry. View the FACT 2023-2025 Strategic Plan The defining objectives are ...

NUCLEUS: Coping with COVID-19: How to Support Your Patients and Yourself Mentally and Emotionally

By Emily Bennett posted 05-05-2020
Amidst the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, caring for patients through the BMT process has become increasingly arduous. Not only are patients feeling increased fear, stress, and anxiety as they move through challenging treatment regimens, but healthcare providers are experiencing increasing demands both at home and at work... Click here to read more.

NUCLEUS: As We Begin to Shift to the New Normal, Let’s Not Forget the Lessons of COVID-19

By Emily Bennett posted 05-05-2020
These past few weeks have felt endless. But now it appears there might be a small light at the end of the tunnel. Many cities and states are beginning to ponder their plans for reopening—and a few have slowly begun lifting their restrictions... Click here to read more.

NUCLEUS: Joint Letter Urges Department of Health and Human Services to Ensure Access to Domestic and International Bone Marrow Transport

By Emily Bennett posted 05-03-2020
ASTCT, along with 20 other organizations and institutions, signed a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services this week, urging officials to ensure the on-time delivery of absolutely essential, life-saving therapies to those most in need during this unprecedented worldwide crisis.... Click here to read more.

NUCLEUS: Joint Letter Urges Department of Health and Human Services to Ensure Access to Domestic and International Bone Marrow Transport

By Emily Bennett posted 04-07-2020
ASTCT, along with 20 other organizations and institutions, signed a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services this week, urging officials to ensure the on-time delivery of absolutely essential, life-saving therapies to those most in need during this unprecedented worldwide crisis... Click here to read more.

FDA OKs Convalescent Plasma for Treating Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients

By Rakesh Goyal posted 03-25-2020
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on March 24th that it will allow physicians to use convalescent plasma collected from recovered COVID-19 patients in patients with serious or immediately life-threatening COVID-19 infections. This will be through the process of single patient emergency Investigational New Drug Applications (eINDs) for Individual patients under 21 CFR 312.310. At the same time, the state of New York announced initiation of a clinical trial using blood plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19.

NUCLEUS: ASTCT Sends Letter to to Legislative Leaders on PPE

By Emily Bennett posted 03-24-2020
On Monday, leaders from ASTCT sent a letter to several members of Congress, urging them to to ensure the implementation of the Defence Production Act (DPA) to manufacture of necessary medical equipment to combat COVID-19. Click here to read more.

NUCLEUS: Updates from the ASTCT President, March 24, 2020

By Emily Bennett posted 03-24-2020
The ASTCT Executive Committee has been focused on the impact of COVID-19 on transplantation and cellular therapy patients. We are working with our partner organizations and BMT centers to promote and share information that is critical to our members and their patients... Click here to read more.

NUCLEUS: Policy Perspective Update

By Emily Bennett posted 03-17-2020
The federal government is currently taking a number of measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of March 13, 2020 the President of the United States issued a proclamation on declaring a national emergency concern on the coronavirus outbreak. The national emergency announcement includes suspension of entry to foreign nationals into the United States who have been in specific jurisdictions where the virus has been prominent. A governmental task force led by VP Mike Pence has been created in response to the outbreak and is made up of the Administration. Additionally, there has been the first testing of a corona virus vaccine. More information from ...

COVID-19 Information and Interim Patient Care Guidelines

By Kate Jacobson posted 03-09-2020
Details forthcoming... COVID-19_Interim_Patient_Guidelines_3_9_20.pdf

Pharmacy SIG Literature Update: PTCy for GVHD Prophylaxis and More

By Kate Jacobson posted 11-05-2019
In this month’s Pharmacy SIG Literature Update: PTCy versus ATG for GVHD prophylaxis, cost and outcomes with once-daily busulfan dosing, carfilzomib for the treatment of chronic GVHD and much more! Literature summaries are provided as information only. Please refer to the original published articles for complete details on study methodology, results and discussion. *** Must read. Landmark publication that affects practice ** Recommend reading. Secondary paper that adds to literature * Consider reading. Cursory importance to the practice Allogeneic Transplantation **Alatrash G, Kidwell KM, Thall PF, et al. Reduced ...

Join the ASTCT Pharmacy SIG November Journal Club on PD-1 Blockade Post HSCT

By Kate Jacobson posted 11-05-2019
Please join us for the ASTCT Pharmacy SIG November Journal Club on PD-1 Blockade post HSCT and the Dosing of Conditioning Regimens in Obese Patients on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019 at 2:00 pm CST. Our presenters are: Gretchen Junker, PharmD , PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Resident Kansas University PD-1 Blockade with Pembrolizumab after HSCT Joseph Bubalo, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Oregon Health and Science University Hospital and Clinics Effect of Conditioning Regimen Dose Reduction in Obese Patients This event is open to all healthcare professionals. Please register for the event at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2697968838478151181 ...

ASTCT Creates Powerful Possibilities -- Both Personally and Professionally

By Kate Jacobson posted 11-05-2019
Since ASTCT’s founding in 1993, one of the most important aspects of the society has been connectivity. In the 25+ years since, we’ve seen the society grow and change. But one thing remains true: the society’s dedication to helping those in BMT and cellular therapy grow as individuals and institutions. ASTCT is made up of 2,200 physicians, investigators, and other health care professionals focused on the advancement of transplantation and cellular therapy. The society offers educational opportunities for everyone—from the fellow who is just beginning his or her career to the seasoned professional—and allows people from all areas of BMT and cellular therapy ...

An Institutional Membership Opens Doors for Everyone

By Kate Jacobson posted 11-01-2019
When Dr. John DiPersio looked around at his colleagues—people who were integral parts of the cellular therapy and BMT team, ranging from nurses and PAs to physicians—he realized something that concerned him: Not all were members of ASTCT. The former ASTCT president—and deputy director of the Siteman Cancer Center and professor in medicine in the Department of Medicine, Oncology Division at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis—wanted to change that. He knew that everyone could benefit from having an ASTCT membership, but also understood not everyone could afford the individual costs. “We have this entity that is dedicated to cellular therapy ...

FACT Update: Data Audit Policy Update and More

By Kate Jacobson posted 11-01-2019
Mikaela VanMoorleghem, Education and Training Coordinator Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy Data Audit Policy Update FACT-JACIE Standards for Hematopoietic Cellular Therapy require that accredited clinical programs keep complete and accurate data, including all data necessary to complete the Transplant Essential Data Forms of the CIBMTR or the Minimum Essential Data-A forms of EBMT. In August 2016, FACT and CIBMTR announced their collaborative program of data auditing, designed to reduce duplicative efforts, enhance quality improvement efforts, and provide support to accredited programs. Over the past three years, the FACT-CIBMTR ...

Policy Perspectives: Drug Pricing Legislation and More

By Kate Jacobson posted 11-01-2019
Drug Pricing Legislation Drug pricing legislation has continued to progress in the 116 th Congress as the end of the year draws near. The Administration has made a strong push for drug pricing legislation to be passed in 2019. In May 2018, President Trump’s Administration laid out its Drug Pricing Blueprint , which put forth a number of different policy ideas on how to lower the cost of prescription medication. The suggestions included, drug importation, the International Pricing Index, value based purchasing and Medicare program redesign. With the end of the Congressional year quickly approaching, there is pressure from the Administration to get legislation ...

You Can Make a Difference: Join the ASTCT Board!

By Kate Jacobson posted 09-30-2019
ASTCT is calling for nominations to the Board of Directors, and there could not be a more exciting and rewarding time to get involved! The members of the ASTCT Board of Directors work diligently throughout the year to identify and implement strategy to strengthen our society and the blood and marrow transplantation and cellular therapy community. The enthusiasm, excitement, spirit of collaboration, and professional camaraderie associated with the advancement of our society is truly contagious. We have come so far—and talented and spirited leaders are needed to ensure that we continue to make progress. Serving on the Board offers a tremendous opportunity to make ...

Doctor Reflects on Patient Care After Allogenic Transplant

By Kate Jacobson posted 09-30-2019
It didn’t matter how much training Naoto T. Ueno had, how many patients he had seen in his lifetime and how many medical books he had read. When he was sitting there on the other side of the table—as a patient and not as a doctor—nothing seemed to prepare him for how he felt. “I was scared,” said Ueno, MD, PhD, FACP. “I thought, ‘Am I going to die?’ and if I did, was it going to be slow or fast? When I was working I tried to stop worrying about it, but at home with my family, I was like ‘I can’t think about the future. I can’t visualize myself five years from now.’” In 2008, Ueno—a world-renowned breast cancer doctor and researcher at The University of ...