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TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Ellen Karcher and Joseph F. Vitale which requires hospitals and health care professionals to advise pregnant women of the option to donate umbilical cord blood and placental tissue to a public or private blood bank was signed into law last week by Governor Corzine.

“New Jersey has established a record of supporting stem cell research, pushing the boundaries of our current understanding of medical science,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer, the Vice Chair of the Senate Health Committee. “Through this legislation, we will ensure that all expecting moms know that they have an opportunity to contribute to medical progress by donating cord blood and placental tissue to State-sponsored research or private blood banks. This is another move forward in our efforts to advance medical understanding and find cures for currently incurable diseases or permanent injuries.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Ellen Karcher and Joseph F. Vitale which would require hospitals and health care professionals to advise pregnant women of the option to donate umbilical cord blood and placental tissue to a public or private blood bank was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 37-0.

“New Jersey has taken a leading role nationally in terms of support for stem cell research,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer, the Vice Chair of the Senate Health Committee. “By letting expecting mothers know about the option of donating cord blood and placental tissue, we can take advantage of a far less volatile avenue of pursuing research which will cure the incurable and give hope to those facing permanent disability or terminal disease. This bill will ensure that all pregnant women are informed, and can make an educated decision to help save so many lives through stem cell research.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Ellen Karcher and Joseph F. Vitale which would require hospitals and health care professionals to advise pregnant women of the option to donate umbilical cord blood and placental tissue to a public or private blood bank was approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee today by a vote of 8-0.

“As our understanding of medical science expands, we are continually finding new uses for umbilical cord blood and placental tissue,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer, the Vice Chair of the Senate Health Committee. “This blood is rich in stem cells, and provides a less-controversial option to further stem cell research, as well as providing treatment options for patients in need of bone marrow transplants or suffering from leukemia or other blood-based diseases. Rather than be discarded as medical waste, umbilical cord blood and placental tissue can be collected, at no harm to mother or child, and used to benefit so many others.”