Read the most important updates from the WMDA office and notifications to support global collaboration. Earthquake in Taiwan impacts services of Buddhist Tzu Chi Stem Cells Center Information for Human Cell, Tissue, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Product (HCT/P) - Establishments Regarding FDA's Determination that Zika Virus is no Longer a Relevant Communicable Disease Agent or Disease On the morning of May 21, 2024, the FDA announced that Zika Virus is no longer a relevant communicable disease agent or disease for HCT/Ps. As such, screening for risk of Zika Virus will no longer be required for cord blood donors, cord blood banking, or for manufacturing of cellular therapies derived from cord blood or birthing tissues. Travel to areas of the world where Zika Virus previously occurred will no longer be an exclusion for cord blood banking or for cord blood licensure. The change went into effect yesterday, May 20, 2024. Find here more information, click here. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Buddhist Tzu Chi Stem Cells Center has sent an incident report to report that their services are interrupted due to the heavy earthquake that occured in the city where they operate. Their ability to communicate has been impacted (phone calls can't be made) and they are unable to perform any searches currently. We will inform all members as soon as we know more about the impact on donors, collections and shipments. REDOME Survey Please help the Brazilian Bone Marrow Donor Registry, REDOME, by filling out their survey: here. Redome has initiated a research plan to evaluate REDOME as part of Brazilian public policy for unrelated hematopoietic stem cell transplants, compared to other international registries. The research's main focus is on sustainability and some financial data are fundamental to performing economic analysis. Join the next Registry Ops & Reg Committee Meeting on 18 April, 2024 The Registry Operations and Regulation Committee will be reviewing the Global Trends Report Questionnaire. Would you like to join and give your input? Click here to register for the upcoming meeting on Monday, 18 April from 13:00 - 14:00 CET. Find more details here. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WMDA strongly condemns the violence that is occurring in Ukraine, Israel and Gaza. We offer our sympathies to all those who are suffering because of these conflicts. We extend our support to the donor registries and medical centres whose donors and patients are negatively affected by these crises. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |