Health Resources and Services Administration August 17, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is publishing notice of a proposal to establish a new system of records. The Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005 (the Act) authorizes the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program (the Program) and provides for the collection, maintenance, and distribution of human blood stem cells for the treatment of patients and for research. The Program consists of four interrelated components each operated under a separate contract. The four components are: The Bone Marrow Coordinating Center; the Cord Blood Coordinating Center; the Office of Patient Advocacy/Single Point of Access; and the Stem Cell Therapeutic Outcomes Database. The contracts for operation of the Bone Marrow Coordinating Center, Cord Blood Coordinating Center, and Office of Patient Advocacy/Single Point of Access were awarded to the National Marrow Donor Program in September, 2006. A single contract for the Stem Cell Therapeutic Outcomes Database was awarded to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) at the Medical College of Wisconsin in September, 2006 as well. As identified by the Act, the Program is charged with: Operating a system for identifying, matching, and facilitating the distribution of bone marrow that is suitably matched to candidate patients; operating a system for identifying, matching, and facilitating the distribution of donated umbilical cord blood units that are suitably matched to candidate patients; providing a means by which transplant physicians, other healthcare professionals, and patients can electronically search for and access all available adult marrow donors available through the Program; recruiting potential adult volunteer marrow donors; coordinating with other Federal programs to maintain and expand medical contingency response capabilities; carrying out informational and educational activities; providing patient advocacy services; providing case management services for potential donors; and collecting, analyzing, and publishing blood stem cell transplantation related data in a standardized electronic format. This system of records is required to comply with the implementation directives of the Act, Public Law 109-129. The records will be used for the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program's planning, implementation, evaluation, monitoring, and document storage purposes.