UAMS Cancer Institute Bone Marrow Transplant Program Receives Internationally Recognized Accreditation
| LITTLE ROCK — The Bone Marrow Transplant Program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has received an internationally recognized accreditation by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT).
The UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute is home to Arkansas’ only adult bone marrow transplant program, which treats patients with blood cancers such as lymphoma, leukemia and multiple myeloma.
This marks the first time UAMS has received FACT accreditation for its allogeneic transplant program, which began in 2015. Allogeneic transplants involve the transplantation of stem cells obtained from a donor used to treat patients with lymphomas and leukemias.
The autologous transplant program, which treats patients with multiple myeloma and related conditions, has been FACT accredited since 2009 and received a further renewal. Autologous transplants involve collection of stem cells from a patient’s own bone marrow or blood to be infused into the patient.
“FACT Accreditation ensures patients that our cellular therapy treatment programs provide only the highest quality care,” said Muthu Veeraputhiran, M.D., clinical program director of the UAMS Bone Marrow Transplant Program and assistant professor in the UAMS College of Medicine Division of Hematology.
FACT is an internationally recognized accrediting body for hospitals and medical institutions offering stem cell transplants (also known as bone marrow transplants), and indicates the accredited institution has met the most rigorous standards in every aspect of stem cell therapy, from clinical care and donor management to cell collection, processing, storage, transportation, administration and cell release.
“As Arkansas’ only adult bone marrow transplant program, we provide patients with complex cancers the opportunity to stay close to home while receiving life-saving treatment. The added assurance that our programs have met the highest quality standards should serve as a reassurance that we can and will provide and expand this valuable service for years to come.
“FACT Accreditation also opens up the opportunity for UAMS to bring in National Institutes of Health-sponsored multi-institutional clinical trials in allogeneic bone marrow transplant, giving patients in Arkansas access to the most current advances in research,” said Veeraputhiran.
Accreditation is attained through evaluation of submitted documentation and on-site inspection to determine if an organization complies with FACT standards and the Food and Drug Administration’s rules for Good Tissue Practice. FACT Standards are defined by leading experts based on the latest knowledge of the field of cellular therapy.
UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,485 students, 915 medical residents and fellows, and seven dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 11,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.###