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.

Save the Cord Foundation:  How did you feel (mentally, emotionally, physically) before and after the cord transplant?

Keri:  Before transplant, I was very scared, nervous and stressed out, but also confident that I would make it through.  I had some family members who weren't sure this was the best route for me.  I even had some doctors who disagreed that this was my best chance and best course of treatment.  I was scared that the cord wouldn't "take," that my body would reject it.  But I really didn't have a whole lot of time to sit around and think about it, because it all happened very fast.  I felt ok physically, considering all that had happened in the months leading up to transplant.  At the same time, I was very hopeful and optimistic.  I had a feeling that had been there since diagnosis that I was going to be alright. 
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With the support of my wonderful family, friends, and doctors, I made it through.  There were times I wasn't sure I was going to make it.  The first few weeks after transplant were really rough - I had engraftment syndrome and severe mucositis.  But once my body accepted my donor cells and started making blood and platelets and white cells, I started feeling better.  I got out of the hospital at Day +21 and haven't been back since (knock on wood).  It has not been an easy road.  I often have to remind myself that transplant is not a procedure, it's a process.  I've had several setbacks including sepsis, acute graft vs host disease (GvHD) and now chronic GvHD, but I am proud to be here and to have survived.  I am just over four years out from transplant and have just recently started to feel better and a little more like my old self.  I have chronic GvHD in my mouth, skin, and fascia that I'm currently being treated for.  I'm not sure I would be here today without the love and support of my family and friends, and most certainly without all the wonderful doctors and nurses who have treated me over the years.  My cord blood donor saved my life!  I am thankful every, single, day.