STATE SENATE PASSES BILL TO PROMOTE PUBLIC UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD BANKING

State Senator John A. DeFrancisco announced that the New York State Senate passed his bill (S2060-A) that would help to promote the benefits of umbilical cord blood banking. 

Umbilical cord blood, which is typically discarded, is rich in forming cells that can give hope to blood cancer patients, and the procedure to preserve cord blood is safe for both mother and baby. Under this legislation, the New York State Department of Health would help to promote public  awareness  of the potential benefits of public umbilical cord blood banking and to help facilitate pre-delivery arrangements.

“Knowledge is key. This bill would require the New York State Department of Health to develop educational materials, such as brochures, to ensure that expectant mothers are informed as to the accessibility of this option, which could benefit their own families and/or others who become ill,” said Senator DeFrancisco.         

The bill has been delivered to the State Assembly and awaits action by that body.

This fall, Upstate Medical University is scheduled to open a $15 million Upstate Cord Blood Bank that will collect, process and store umbilical cord blood donated by families throughout Central and northern New York to be used by those in need of life-saving medical treatments and for medical research. Senator John DeFrancisco played a key role in securing funding for the building, enabling Syracuse to have one of the only two public cord blood banks in New York state.

For more information on this project, please click on the image below.

                                                                                                                                #####