UMass Memorial collaborated with CII to establish the Cord Blood DonationProgram in October 2006 and has collected more than 1,000 units since itsinception. UMass Memorial is the only hospital in the state or in NewEngland offering a cord blood donation program. Massachusetts is one of 22states in the country which requires healthcare professionals to educatetheir patients about their cord blood options.

"We are excited that this day has arrived for the team at UMass Memorialand the families who have donated this precious source of stem cells foruse around the world," said Robert Gravely, Cryobanks chief operatingofficer. "It takes a lot of coordinated effort and science to make theseunits readily available. But most importantly, without Dr. Mary Herlihyleading the charge at UMass Memorial, the area doctors and nurses whoeducate and collect the units, and the families themselves who choose todonate, none of this would happen. We congratulate them all."

"Our company is very proud of the services and the education that is beingprovided by both the program and the staff at UMass Memorial. They've donea wonderful job creating awareness and eagerness to participate in aprocess that can potentially save lives," commented Legna Pena, marketingcoordinator for Cryobanks International.

Umbilical cord blood donation has been in practice since the 1990s. It isconsidered a simple and painless procedure for the mother and child. CIIprovides UMass Memorial with collection kits and a local donor coordinatorwho works with the hospital and local physicians on a daily basis to managethe program. Expectant mothers who are interested in donating theirbabies' cord blood should enroll in the program no later than the 34th weekof pregnancy by filling out paperwork, including a brief medical history.The donation can be arranged through their physicians, the Women's Centerat UMass Memorial, or with the Cryobanks' local Worcester donor coordinatorat 508-799-8864. If the mother is not able to pre-register, there is anonsite registration process at the hospital. Patients can find moreinformation on Cryobanks International website www.cryo-intl.com.

About Cryobanks:

Cryobanks International, Inc., located in Altamonte Springs, FL, is aleader in the collection, processing, and banking of stem cells derivedfrom umbilical cord blood. The stem cell rich cord blood (CB) is processedusing the company's proprietary processing methods and are stored for usein unrelated transplants. Cryobanks established the first and onlynationwide public cord blood donation bank. The company also providespersonal storage programs through which parents can elect to store cordblood for their own family's possible future use. In recent years, cordblood transplants (CBTs) have become widely recognized as a safe andeffective alternative to traditional bone marrow transplants (BMTs).Cryobanks International has processed more than 16,000 cord blood units inits 13+ years of operation. The company is a National Marrow Donor ProgramNetwork Cord Blood bank, and is AABB accredited, FDA registered andcGMP/cGTP compliant. Cryobanks is also licensed by the states of New York,New Jersey and California for CB collection and/or processing. The companyalso provides consulting and management services for organizations orstates interested in developing their own cord blood banking operations.For more information about Cryobanks International call 1-800-869-8608 orvisit the website at www.cryo-intl.com.