Just the FACTs Newsletter – May 2026
CEO Welcome
On behalf of our Board leadership, our dedicated committee members and inspectors, and our headquarters team colleagues, I’m privileged to welcome all stakeholders in the field of cellular therapy to this issue of Just the FACTs.
“FACT Forward” is a newly adopted theme behind our efforts to maximize our mission of improving the quality of cellular therapy through peer-developed standards, education, and accreditation for the benefit of patients. Advancing our strategic imperatives, continually improving daily operations and service excellence, and applying foresight to prepare for future developments are tied together through our commitment to FACT Forward.
Expanding eligible patient access to safe and quality-based cellular therapies in America’s communities is an imperative embraced by everyone within FACT. We’re thrilled to be supporting the inaugural wave of community-based oncology clinics and hospitals in their decisions to pursue FACT accreditation (full or provisional) in conformance with our recently published “fit-for-purpose” Community IEC Standards. Collaboration and shared learnings with these community leaders will assuredly help us all accelerate subsequent efforts. See how we’re tracking these initial efforts within this issue. FACT invites and is actively working to collaborate with all community oncology stakeholders to advance this imperative.
Supporting our Community IEC accreditation pathway, we’ll soon publish our inaugural Community IEC Accreditation Manual. This asset will help our community oncology stakeholders understand steps, processes, and “how to” guidance related to our community IEC accreditation pathway. And if you haven’t already, please visit our re-designed website offering improved user navigation, concise information, and more.
FACT’s volunteer inspectorate, an essentially vital cohort of dedicated and trained peer leaders, is growing (including members from community oncology) to 261 professionals, a high-water mark in our 30-year history. We thank ALL these essential contributors to our mission.
FACT Forward is also driving an examination of FACT’s governance, including Bylaws, Committees, and Policies. A second FACT imperative, this work aims to bring optimal representation of diverse stakeholders into our decision and policy-making processes, with heightened, clear transparency.
This issue also highlights a significant growth in programs seeking initial accreditation(s), reminds our colleagues to submit feedback on our draft Common Standards for Cellular Therapies, and answers some frequently asked questions about our Accreditation Portal.
The value FACT brings to quality and safety for the benefit of patients is carried on the shoulders of hundreds of peer volunteers. We remain grateful as ever for their contributions, and are committed to serving and supporting them with excellence.
Please always contact us with feedback or suggestions, as our peer developed, consensus-driven assets and offerings depend on this.
Respectfully, David
