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FACT's accreditation, a three-year renewal effective through March 2007, applies to all aspects of the stem cell/bone marrow transplantation services, including autologous and allogeneic bone marrow and peripheral blood progenitor (PBPC) transplantation, including cell collection and cellular processing.

''This continued national recognition of our longstanding commitment to provide the highest quality stem cell and bone marrow transplantation services to our adult and pediatric patients is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the doctors, nurses, researchers, technicians and staff of Dana-Farber, Children's Hospital, and Brigham and Women's Hospital,'' says Edward J. Benz, Jr, MD, president of Dana-Farber.

The adult stem cell transplantation service at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center (DF/BWCC) is one of the oldest and largest programs in the world. Since the program's inception in 1972, more than 4,000 transplants have been performed to treat adult cancers.

Established in 1972, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Children's Hospital Boston Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation Program is one of the world's first pediatric transplant programs and is internationally recognized for its clinical expertise and medical transplantation research and technology. The program performs between 70-80 transplants annually.

In 2002, the DFCI/CHB pediatric bone marrow transplant unit underwent an extensive renovation. The 13-bed unit's new state-of-the-art air filtration system - which allows the patients more freedom to go in and out of their rooms with a greatly decreased risk of infection from other patients and guests - and the new airy, bright and colorful architectural and interior design have helped to reduce a patient's feeling of isolation while undergoing treatment.

In 1997, the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) initiated its voluntary comprehensive standard-setting, inspection, and accreditation program that encompasses all phases of hematopoietic collection, processing and transplant. The major objective of FACT is to promote high quality patient care and quality laboratory performance in the belief that a valid accreditation must assess both clinical and laboratory aspects.

Brigham and Women's Hospital is a 725-bed nonprofit teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and a founding member of Partners HealthCare System, an integrated health care delivery network. Internationally recognized as a leading academic health care institution, BWH is committed to excellence in patient care, medical research, and the training and education of health care professionals. The hospital's preeminence in all aspects of clinical care is coupled with its strength in medical research. A leading recipient of research grants from the National Institutes of Health, BWH conducts internationally acclaimed clinical, basic and epidemiological studies.

Children's Hospital Boston is the nation's premier pediatric medical center. Children's is the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, home to the world's leading pediatric research enterprise, and the largest provider of health care to the children of Massachusetts. For more information about the hospital visit: www.childrenshospital.org.