Bill to Unite Cord Blood and Bone Marrow Networks Signed into Law

December 20, 2005—The Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act (PL 109-129) was signed into law by President George W. Bush earlier today. It calls for the National Marrow Donor Program to merge with a new umbilical cord blood bank network and sets up a system where this network collects and maintains human cord blood for future transplantation and research needs. The Senate approved the bill (HR 2520) on December 16, which followed House passage of this measure on May 24 along with the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (HR 810).

Supporters of embryonic stem cell research had hoped that the Senate would also pass HR 2520 at the same time as HR 810, as the House did on May 24. However, embryonic stem cell research remains a highly controversial issue in the Senate. An agreement between Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, MD, (R-TN) provides that HR 810 will be a priority item for the Senate to consider in early 2006.

The new cord blood law requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to contract with qualified cord blood stem cell banks to assist in the collection and maintenance of human cord blood for transplantation through the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program. This national program would collect and maintain umbilical cord blood stem cells and bone marrow for treatment and research purposes as well as share a single case management office and database registry that would allow physicians to search for bone marrow and umbilical cord blood donors. It will target biologically unrelated donors of bone marrow and cord blood for future transplant needs. The program will also support future outreach and research projects on cord blood donation to ensure that there is a genetically-diverse national supply.

The law authorizes $79 million between FYs 2006 and 2010 for collecting and storing an additional 150,000 units of umbilical cord blood and developing the national cell transplantation program.

The new law is consistent with ASH’s policy statement on cord blood banking. If you have questions, or need more information, please contact ASH Government Affairs Manager Jeff Coughlin at (202) 776-0544.