[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 14473]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5461]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Meeting of the Advisory Council on Blood Stem Cell 
Transplantation

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of Meeting of the Advisory Council on Blood Stem Cell 
Transplantation.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Public Law 92-463, the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice is hereby given of the 
second meeting of the Advisory Council on Blood Stem Cell 
Transplantation (ACBSCT), Department of Health and Human Services 
(HHS). The meeting will be held from approximately 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 
on April 28, 2008, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 29, 2008, at the 
Hilton Washington D.C./Rockville Executive Meeting Center, 1750 
Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852. The meeting will be open to the 
public; however, seating is limited and pre-registration is encouraged 
(see below).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Public Law 109-129, 42 U.S.C. 
274k (section 379 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended) the 
ACBSCT was established to advise the Secretary of HHS and the 
Administrator, HRSA, on matters related to the activities of the C.W. 
Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program (Program) and the National Cord 
Blood Inventory (NCBI) Program. ACBSCT is composed of up to 25 members, 
including the Chair, serving as Special Government Employees. The 
current membership includes representatives of marrow donor centers and 
marrow transplant centers; representatives of cord blood banks and 
participating birthing hospitals; recipients of a bone marrow 
transplant; recipients of a cord blood transplant; persons who require 
such transplants; family members of such a recipient or family members 
of a patient who has requested the assistance of the Program in 
searching for an unrelated donor of bone marrow or cord blood; persons 
with expertise in bone marrow and cord blood transplantation; persons 
with expertise in typing, matching, and transplant outcome data 
analysis; persons with expertise in the social sciences; basic 
scientists with expertise in the biology of adult stem cells; 
ethicists; hematology and transfusion medicine researchers with 
expertise in adult blood stem cells; persons with expertise in cord 
blood processing; and members of the general public.
    The Council will hear reports from five of the ACBSCT Work Groups: 
Cord Blood Accreditation Organization and Recognition Process, Need for 
Public Funding for Required Data Documentation, Process for Access of 
Cord Blood Units for Research, Scientific Factors Necessary to Define a 
Cord Blood Unit as High Quality, and Program Confidentiality/Policies 
for Cord Blood Donors.
    The draft meeting agenda will be available on April 15, 2008, on 
the HRSA's Program Web site at http://bloodcell.transplant.hrsa.gov/ABOUT/Advisory_Council/index.html.
    A registration form will be available on April 1, 2008, on the 
HRSA's Program Web site at http://bloodcell.transplant.hrsa.gov/ABOUT/Advisory_Council/index.html. The completed registration form should be 
submitted by facsimile to Professional and Scientific Associates (PSA), 
the logistical support contractor for the meeting, at fax number (703) 
234-1701. Registration can also be completed electronically at https://www.team-psa.com/dot/2008/acbsct/. Individuals without access to the 
Internet who wish to register may call Amanda Madeline with PSA at 
(703) 234-1244.
    Individuals who plan to attend the meeting and need special 
assistance, such as sign language interpretation or other reasonable 
accommodations, should notify the ACBSCT Executive Secretary, Remy 
Aronoff, in advance of the meeting. Mr. Aronoff may be reached by 
telephone at 301-443-3264, e-mail: [email protected] or in 
writing at the address provided below. Management and support services 
for ACBSCT functions are provided by the Division of Transplantation, 
Healthcare Systems Bureau, Health Resources and Services 
Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Parklawn Building, Room 12C-06, 
Rockville, Maryland 20857; telephone number 301-443-7577.
    After the presentations and Council discussions, members of the 
public will have an opportunity to provide comments. Because of the 
Council's full agenda and the timeframe in which to cover the agenda 
topics, public comment will be limited. All public comments will be 
included in the record of the ACBSCT meeting. Meeting summary notes 
will be made available on the HRSA's Program Web site at http://bloodcell.transplant.hrsa.gov/ABOUT/Advisory_Council/index.html.

    Dated: March 12, 2008.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E8-5461 Filed 3-17-08; 8:45 am]
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