History

Incorporation

Founded in 1995 and incorporated in 1996, FACT is the accreditation arm of two professional societies dedicated to improvement and progress in cellular therapy: the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) and the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT). ISCT is the global steward fostering cell and gene therapy translation to the clinic. ISCT members have a shared vision to translate cell and gene therapies into safe and effective therapies to improve patients’ lives worldwide. ASTCT is an international professional association whose mission is dedicated to improving the application and success of blood and marrow transplantation and related cellular therapies. ASTCT strives to be the leading organization promoting research, education and clinical practice in the field.

International Expansion

Cellular transplantation is an international effort. Because the best donor for an unrelated donor transplant is often in a country other than that of the recipient, international standards for cellular therapy products are important in facilitation of these transplants. To address this issue, FACT representatives worked with colleagues from the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) and ISCT-Europe to establish the Joint Accreditation Committee of ISCT-Europe and EBMT (JACIE). The primary aim of JACIE is to improve the quality of hematopoietic cell transplantation in Europe through its accreditation and education programs, and to work toward international harmonization of standards and regulations. Representatives of FACT, ISCT, and ASTCT collaborated with members of NetCord, an international network of independent cord blood banks, to draft comprehensive international standards for cord blood and to establish an accreditation program parallel to the FACT accreditation program for cellular therapy.

FACT Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Join FACT in celebrating 25 years of working together to improve the fields of cellular therapy, cord blood banking, and regenerative medicine. Congratulations to all FACT’s volunteer inspectors, committee members, leadership, accredited organizations, staff, and supporters for making this milestone possible. 

The Leader in International Standards for Cellular Therapy

Watch a five minute commemorative video interviewing the FACT founders to learn how the pioneers in the field of cellular therapy came together to create FACT with the purpose of raising the bar in providing quality and safe care to patients.

FACT Today

FACT is an established nonprofit organization with a central office and staff in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. The core of FACT is its active Board of Directors, comprised of an equal number of representatives from ISCT and ASTCT, a representative from the American Society for Apheresis (ASFA), executive leadership including the FACT Chief Executive Officer and FACT Chief Medical Officer, the FACT Standards Committee Chair, and a Public Director. FACT engages over 250 volunteer practicing professionals to lead and participate on its strategic and standing committees.

Major Achievements

• 2019: 
  • Seventh Edition NetCord-FACT International Standards for Cord Blood Collection, Banking, and Release for Administration published.
  • FACT-SBTMO joint accreditation program launched in Brazil.
  • First FACT-JACIE Stepwise Accreditation inspections conducted in Latin America.
• 2020: 
  • FACT responds to global COVID-19 pandemic to protect the safety of its volunteer inspectors and program personnel by implementing virtual inspections.
• 2021: 
  
  • FACT celebrated its 25th anniversary.
  • Eighth Edition of FACT-JACIE International Standards for Hematopoietic Cellular Therapy Product Collection, Processing, and Administration is published.
  • FACT completes transition from 25-year relationship with the University of Nebraska Medical Center to become an independent entity enabling the organization to better respond to progress and advancements in the rapidly changing field of cellular therapy.