Akron Children’s stem cell transplant program awarded FACT accreditation
Recognition ensures patients have access to the highest level of care close to home
03-02-2026 (Ohio)
Akron Children’s has received three-year accreditation by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) for its autologous stem cell transplants (where a patient’s own cells are used), immune effector cellular therapy, and the collection of marrow and stem cells.
FACT is an internationally-recognized accrediting body for hospitals and medical institutions offering stem cell transplant and indicates that Akron Children’s has met the most rigorous standards in every aspect of stem cell therapy. This covers the entire spectrum of stem cell therapy from clinical care to donor management, cell collection, processing, storage, transportation, administration and cell release.
“It’s an honor to receive this accreditation, as it validates that we are meeting the highest standards when it comes to patient safety,” said Dr. Megan Sampson, director of the bone marrow transplant program at Akron Children’s. “FACT accreditation ensures consistent, high-quality care is provided to our patients through compliance with requirements focusing on standardization of protocols, staff training, quality management programs and continuous performance improvement.”
Akron Children’s Showers Family Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders has been performing stem cell transplants – both autologous and allogeneic (using donor cells) since 2003. Stem cell transplantation is an intensive treatment used to restore the blood-forming cells that have been destroyed by high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation.
“We are pleased that Akron Children’s has met the requirements of the Foundation and has been granted accreditation for its autologous transplant program,” said Dr. Phyllis Warkentin, FACT’s chief medical officer.
Dr. Sampson said FACT accreditation will allow the Showers Center to expand its clinical trials and offer additional cellular therapy treatments, including gene therapy and CAR T-cells in the near future.
The Showers Center has been providing specialized pediatric hematology-oncology care for more than 60 years and is one of six regional sickle cell centers in Ohio. Patients come to the Showers Center from 40 Ohio counties and 9 other states. The center is now strengthened by working closely with Cincinnati Children’s, an international leader in bone marrow transplant and one of the top-ranked hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for more than 15 years.
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About FACT
In December 1994, the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) and the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT) merged their Standards into a single document covering all aspects of hematopoietic cell therapy (collection, processing, and transplantation). The two societies established FACT in order to develop a voluntary Inspection and Accreditation Program based on the joint Standards. FACT promotes quality medical and laboratory practice of cellular therapy through its peer-developed standards and voluntary inspection and accreditation program.
In 2006, FACT, in collaboration with the Joint Accreditation Committee–ISCT & EBMT (JACIE), developed international standards in the field of cellular therapy. JACIE was founded by the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) and the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT), the two leading scientific organizations involved with cellular transplantation in Europe.
