Amanda L. Olson, M.D.

Dr. Olson completed Hematology and Oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in 2013 where her research focus was related to optimization of umbilical cord blood transplantation and infectious complications following hematopoietic stem cell transplant in adults. She currently is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy where she oversees clinical research related to cord blood transplantation, mesenchymal stem cell manipulation and cellular therapy.

​Dr. Olson is the Principal Investigator for several cellular therapy trials including a Phase I trial of mesenchymal stem cells transfected with plasmid containing interferon beta for the treatment of refractory epithelial ovarian cancer, an international, multi-institutional, Phase III study evaluating the use of cord blood derived mesenchymal stem cell expansion to expedite hematopoietic engraftment following stem cell transplantation, a Phase I trial of IV mesenchymal stem cells for the use of cardiac regeneration following chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy and a Phase II trial of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes in the treatment of BK and JC virus. Dr. Olson has institutional funding and extramural grant support.

Dr. Ngaire Elwood completed an honours degree in Pharmacology at the University of Melbourne in 1986. She undertook a Masters in Immunology at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund Laboratories / Kings College in London prior to completing her PhD in the Cancer Unit at the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute, Melbourne. Following postdoctoral positions at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and then at Duke University Medical Centre, USA, she returned to Melbourne to the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute in 2001 to establish the Leukaemia/Stem Cell Research Lab in the Children's Cancer Centre.

In February 2007, Dr Elwood became the Director of the BMDI Cord Blood Bank (CBB), one of three public cord blood banks in Australia, which together form the AusCord network. As Director of the CBB, Chair of AusCord (2009 to 2014), appointments on a diverse range of executive committees and an international inspector for the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT), Dr. Elwood's skills include strategic planning, governance, change management, policy development, cell therapy manufacturing, regulatory affairs and liaison with stakeholders.

Dr. Elwood is a member of the international FACT Board and sits on several FACT committees, including the FACT Cord Blood Standards Steering Committee. She heads the Cord Blood Stem Cell Research Group at Murdoch Childrens and has more than 25 years' research experience in the field of cellular therapy, haematopoietic stem cells, bone marrow transplantation, translational research, cord blood and leukaemia. (Source: ​www.mcri.edu.au/users/dr-ngaire-elwood )

Donna M. Regan, MT (ASCP) SBB 

​Ms. Regan is the Director of Customer-Ready Products at the National Marrow Donor Program: Be The Match.

​Ms. Regan has spent over 25 years directing a clinical cell processing laboratory and a licensed public cord blood bank. She brings a wealth of experience with cGMP, regulatory compliance, Quality Management, and product development. Now as the Director of Customer Ready Products at the National Marrow Donor Program’s Be The Match, Donna facilitates patient access to cellular therapies and cultivates collaborative network relationships.