BARBARA ANN KARMANOS CANCER INSTITUTE

Affiliation / network support, community education, & cord stem cell bank: community education provided by kci staff and volunteers occur through visits to businesses, churches, schools, shopping malls, health care forums and virtually any venue conducive to informing individuals on ways to prevent cancer and its warning signs, and the very latest in screening, diagnostics, treatment and follow-up care through educational presentations, materials and displays. Kci offers free fact sheets on the most common forms of cancer and topics of interest. These are geared to persons concerned about their cancer risk and interested in prevention and early detection not to persons diagnosed with cancer. Genetic counseling educational sessions are offered on a regular basis at kci and by appointment. Participants learn about inherited breast and ovarian cancer genes and how to reduce their risk. Kci also supports efforts and provides resources to help individuals successfully quit smoking. The j.p. Mccarthy cord stem cell bank at kci is a public, non-profit stem cell bank with over 2,800 umbilical cord blood units in its inventory. The bank was founded in 2001 with funding from the j.p. Mccarthy fund and the carls foundation and is one of only a few internationally recognized cord stem cell banks affiliated with the national marrow donor program. The bank was created in anticipation of providing life-saving hope to people who have been diagnosed with cancer and serious blood disorders. Kci collects, processes and stores donated umbilical cord blood that becomes a readily available source of hematopoietic stem cells for transplant in children and adults with leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell disease or other life-threatening conditions. The j.p. Mccarthy cord blood bank and carls processing laboratory is also accredited by the foundation for the accreditation of cellular therapy (fact). The accreditation signifies the highest standards of practice in collection, processing and transplantation. This accreditation demonstrates the commitment to quality in cord blood banking through adherence to rigorous standards that are verified by periodic inspection and peer review.