The NCBP WebResearch application, using interactive screens, enableson-line registration of new, institutional accounts (Figures 1 and 2) (accountauthorization reported back by e-mail), and allows users toa) request research CBUs (Figure 3), upload shipping documents, modify

orders and insert notifications to which it responds with automatic real timee-mail confirmation of receipt (Figure 4),

b) check request status and track shipping information (Figure 5),c) search for previous CBU orders using various fields (Figure 6) and

print/upload reports of orders (Figure 7) (with bidirectional flow ofcommunication), etc.

The CBUs provided for research can be of two types:• fresh, unprocessed, non-clinical grade units within 48 hours from collection,

with limited information and no infectious disease testing, or• frozen CBUs that have undergone volume-reduction, cryopreservation and

storage in liquid Nitrogen, but do not meet all criteria for clinical use. Forthose, an array of data may be available such as blood counts, flowcytometry data, bacteriology results, hemoglobin phenotypes, HLA typing,maternal infectious disease markers and blood group types (Figure 8).

Since WebResearch implementation in August 2017, 39 new researchaccounts have been requested and approved for a current total of 172participating laboratory affiliations worldwide (academic and commercial).A total of 850 transactions were recorded at the end of August 2018, whichresulted in the distribution of 2,195 research CBUs, an 18% increasecompared to the previous year. Of the 2,195 research CBUs distributedthrough WebResearch, 2,148 were fresh CBUs and 47 frozen CBUs(Figure 9); 1,755 CBUs were for academic institutions and 440 CBUs forindustry (Figure 10).These units were opportunely delivered for use in basic research anddevelopment projects of various kinds, pre-clinical trial experiments, stem cellexpansion studies and for validation procedures and GMP monitoring.The interactive WebResearch application is user-friendly and users canrequest expansion to allow the inclusion of additional functions.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND

RESULTS

For approximately three decades, mother-donated cord blood has served as aviable therapeutic solution for clinical applications in hematopoietictransplantation. In addition, cord blood units (CBUs) that do not meet criteriafor clinical use (research CBUs), are invaluable cell sources for basic and pre-clinical research applications relevant to the biology of hematopoietic stemcells, immunogenetics, epidemiology, development of cell processingtechnology and, more recently, to the development of cellular materials to beused in regenerative medicine.

AN INTERACTIVE WEB-BASED APPLICATION FORDISTRIBUTING CORD BLOOD UNITS FOR RESEARCHD. Zamfir1, M. Tarnawski 1, T. Zhu 1, K. Andrade 1, L. Dobrila 1, MS. Albano 1, P. Rubinstein 1 and A. Scaradavou1

1National Cord Blood Program, New York Blood Center

National Cord Blood Program’s (NCBP’s) public Cord Blood Bank (CBB)clinical inventory currently consists of more than 60,000 CBUs and hasdistributed over 5,800 clinical grafts for transplantation worldwide. In addition,the CBB has provided over 40,000 research CBUs to academic institutions,research laboratories and the industry. In all cases, research CBUs areprovided without identifiers, pursuant to maternal - IRB-approved - consent.Distribution of non-clinical units for research utilization has special timing andother requirements that create logistical problems to users and Cord BloodBanks. The exchange of scientific, technical and logistical information betweeninvestigators and the CBB was managed predominantly via email. However,this approach is time-consuming for all parties, and may be associated withunnecessary delays. To overcome these difficulties and to improvecommunications and expedite the distribution of research CBUs compliant withthe specific requirements of the various laboratory studies, the NCBP hasestablished WebResearch, an efficient web-based application to support thedistribution of research CBUs (https://rs.ncbp.cloud/Login.aspx).

STUDY DESIGN/METHOD

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSNCBP staff and Collection sitesNo conflict of interest to disclose

I N N O VA T I O N � E X P E R I E N C E � E X P E R T I S E

Blood Center Enterprises

CONCLUSIONNCBP’s WebResearch enables investigators to request the most appropriateresearch CBUs for their specific laboratory studies and offers an efficient,easy-to-use interface that streamlines the ordering and opportunedistribution/receipt of research CBUs.

Figure 1: WebResearch Log-in site

Figure 2: WebResearch Screen forcreating a new account torequest research CBUs

Figure 3: Completed request form inWebResearch

Figure 4: Examples of automatic real timee-mail confirmations from theNCBP WebResearch

Figure 5: Example of a WebResearchorder for Research CBUs

Figure 6: WebResearch Search Ordersscreen and a printable Ordersreport

Figure 7: WebResearch Shipped OrderReport screen

Figure 8: Types of CBUs provided forresearch

47

2148

Figure 9: WebResearch Fresh vs Frozen Research CBUs Distributed between August 2017 and August 2018

Frozen CBUs

Fresh CBUs 1755

440

Figure 10: Number of Research CBUs Distributed via WebResearch between August 2017 and August 2018

Academic Institutions

Industry