Bone Marrow Program Now Pushes Cord Blood Donations
Related News: Cord Blood Stem CellsThe Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation, which is based in Boca Raton, Florida but is an international network, has just launched a new program working to convince Jewish familes to donate their babies’ umbilical cord blood.
"The blood is frozen and stored at the University of Massachusetts in Worcester," said Executive Director Jay Feinberg, who is himself a bone marrow recipient.
"We maintain a bone marrow and stem cell registry," said Jody Greenspon, special projects coordinator for the agency.
The registry currently can be queried throughout the country by way of the Internet to find bone marrow donors. Its goal is to be available to locate umbilical cord blood units.
Feinberg said the agency mainly focuses on Jewish donors, but people of all faiths can offer the stem cell-rich blood or request umbilical cord blood through the agency.
He said the Gift of Life is appealing to mothers-to-be at synagogues and Jewish organizations.
"I think this initiative will provide much-needed medical answers," said Yael Keren, associate director of the American Jewish Committee in Boca Raton.
Posted on June 24, 2005 05:33 PM