Milestone Expands Access to Advanced Cellular Therapies Close to Home for South Jersey Patients
CAMDEN, NJ — MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper has earned accreditation from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) for its Blood & Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program—marking a major milestone for cancer care in the region and advancing access to life-saving treatment for patients across South Jersey.
With this achievement, MD Anderson at Cooper is the only provider of stem cell transplant services in southern New Jersey, giving patients access to these highly specialized therapies without the need to travel to Philadelphia or central New Jersey.
FACT accreditation recognizes the program’s adherence to the highest standards of quality, safety, and patient care in stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy. It also enables patients with Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance to receive a full range of advanced cellular therapies locally, including stem cell transplant, CAR T-cell therapy, tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy, natural killer cell therapy, and T-cell receptor therapy.
For patients and families throughout South Jersey, this milestone represents a meaningful shift in access to care.
Patients who once had to travel outside the region for complex treatments can now receive advanced therapies close to home—reducing the burden of travel during a challenging time and allowing them to stay connected to their support systems. Prior to the creation of MD Anderson at Cooper’s stem cell transplant services, patients would have to travel to central New Jersey or Philadelphia, depending on their insurance provider’s determination.
“Receiving FACT accreditation reflects the expertise and dedication of our multidisciplinary team and reinforces our commitment to delivering the highest level of care,” said Generosa Grana, MD, director of MD Anderson at Cooper. “Most importantly, it ensures that patients in South Jersey can access advanced stem cell transplant and cellular therapies in their own community.”
The FACT accreditation process includes a rigorous evaluation of every aspect of care, including cell collection, processing, storage, and administration. The accreditation applies to autologous stem cell transplants as well as a range of advanced cellular therapies.
The Blood & Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program at MD Anderson at Cooper treats patients with complex cancers and blood disorders, including leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and myelodysplastic syndromes. The program also provides access to innovative therapies and clinical trials for patients with melanoma, lung cancer, and head and neck cancers.
“As cellular therapies continue to reshape cancer care, it’s critical that these treatments are delivered through programs with the experience and infrastructure to support them,” said Roger Strair, MD, PhD, director of the Blood & Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program at MD Anderson at Cooper. “FACT accreditation recognizes the strength of our program and the coordinated, patient-centered care we provide.”
Stem cell transplantation replaces damaged or diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells capable of restoring normal blood cell production. Cellular therapies, such as CAR T-cell therapy, use engineered immune cells to target cancer. MD Anderson at Cooper was also the first center in the Philadelphia–South Jersey region to offer TIL therapy to patients with advanced melanoma.
As a clinical partner of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, MD Anderson at Cooper brings nationally recognized expertise and proven treatment protocols to patients throughout South Jersey and the Delaware Valley.
MD Anderson at Cooper is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as High Performing in the treatment of leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Cooper University Hospital has also consistently been ranked among the top hospitals in New Jersey.
For more information about the Blood & Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, visit MDAndersonCooper.org.
VIDEO: South Jersey’s Only Bone Marrow Transplant Program | MD Anderson at Cooper
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