This past weekend, Congress unanimously passed legislation creating a national umbilical cord blood program that would provide federal funding to collect and store cord blood for life-saving blood cell transplants. The legislation also reauthorizes the existing national marrow registry of unrelated adult volunteer donors.

"The National Marrow Donor Program^® (NMDP) is delighted that Congress has taken this life-saving action to establish a national cord blood program and to reauthorize the marrow donor program," said Jeffrey W. Chell, M.D., chief executive officer of the NMDP. "The Center for Cord Blood at the NMDP has made tremendous strides in working with cord blood banks to build an inventory of more than 45,000 cord blood units - units that can help eliminate health disparities. National funding makes it possible to expand this important work to administer the field of blood cell and marrow transplant and research."

The bill will provide $79 million in federal funding to increase the number of cord blood units available for matches. The goal is to provide an additional 150,000 cord blood units for public use and establish a system that allows transplant physicians access to adult volunteer donors and cord blood units.

The Center for Cord Blood at the NMDP is unique in its ability to provide a streamlined, single source for blood cells used for transplant - marrow, peripheral blood stem cells and umbilical cord blood - in a complete and convenient manner, quickly delivering the preferred source to the transplant physician. The increase in the number of cord blood units provides additional options for patients and their doctors, particularly for patients of color.

Twenty-five percent of Blacks and African Americans who received a marrow or blood cell transplant during the last year received a cord blood transplant.

"More patients diagnosed with blood diseases, such as leukemia and other cancers, will benefit from the increased number and diversity of cord blood units available for transplant," Chell said. "The Center for Cord Blood is committed to increasing the accessibility of all treatment options for all patients. Our robust search, support and match work continues as we strive to help every patient in need."

The Center for Cord Blood at the NMDP is a world leader in providing umbilical cord blood to help patients who need a life-saving transplant. It manages the largest listing of cord blood units in the United States with a network of 15 banks and three international registries. Additional banks and registries are being added continually.

Public cord blood banks collect and process cord blood from mothers who voluntarily donate their cord blood for use by unrelated recipients. The blood in the umbilical cord and placenta is unique because it contains large numbers of the types of cells used in transplantation. Collected after a baby's birth, cord blood collection poses no risk to the mother or her child.