National Marrow Donor Program Release: Marrow And Blood Cell Symposium Focuses On The Promise Of Transplantation

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- A symposium on "Marrow, Adult Stem Cell and Cord Blood Transplantation: Current Practice Future Potential" was held Wednesday, Nov. 17 at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room G11. The National Marrow Donor Program(R) (NMDP) and the Marrow Foundation(R) sponsored the symposium.

John R. Wingard, M.D., director of the Bone Marrow Transplant Program at the University of Florida College of Medicine, delivered the keynote luncheon address, "The Promises of Cellular Therapy" and joined other speakers as the symposium explored:

   -- Present applications and future promises of adult marrow and blood
      cell transplant therapy
   -- Recent developments in the use of cord blood transplantation
   -- Collaborative efforts to advance the science of cellular transplant
      therapy
   -- Research to improve post-transplant outcomes

Dennis Confer, M.D., NMDP chief medical officer, hosted the 11:30 a.m. (EST) symposium.

"This symposium provides an excellent opportunity to meet with pioneers and leading experts in the field of transplantation," Confer said. "Understanding the current use and future potential of marrow, blood cell and cord blood transplantation will be essential to making informed decisions regarding this rapidly evolving science."

Among other featured speakers were Joanne Kurtzberg, M.D., of Duke University, director, Carolinas Cord Blood Bank, Durham, N.C., speaking on cord blood transplantation, and Mary Horowitz, M.D., scientific director, the Center of International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) discussing research themes and collaborative relationships.

The symposium is being held in conjunction with "Celebrating Second Chances," a gala celebration observing the NMDP's 20,000th-transplant milestone reached this month.

The NMDP is celebrating National Marrow Awareness Month with that significant milestone. The "Celebrating 20,000 patients, 20,000 stories" awareness campaign embodies the vital work of the NMDP and its Network by highlighting 24 inspiring stories of patients' and donors' journeys, the physicians who work with them, the medical pioneers advancing the science of transplant, and the NMDP's critical function providing the search, support and match capability to bring patients and donors together for life-saving transplants.

The National Marrow Donor Program(R) helps people who need a life-saving marrow or blood cell transplant. We connect patients, doctors, donors and researchers to the resources they need to help more people live longer and healthier lives. To achieve our mission, we search our Registry -- the largest listing of volunteer donors and cord blood units in the world; support patients and their doctors throughout the transplant process; and match patients with the best donor or cord blood unit using innovative science and technology. For more information, visit http://www.marrow.org/ .

CONTACT: Patrick Thompson of National Marrow Donor Program,+1-612-884-8518, Cell, +1-612-747-7037

Web site: http://www.marrow.org/