TRENTON –New Jersey Health and Senior Services Commissioner Fred M. Jacobs, M.D., J.D. will launch an educational campaign tomorrow to help health professionals inform expectant mothers of the life-saving value of storing umbilical cord blood through public umbilical cord and placenta blood banks.  The campaign will kick off at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood during the first in a series of education and training sessions taking place over the next two months throughout New Jersey.

The campaign is part of Governor Richard J. Codey’s initiative to advance New Jersey as a leader in the field of stem cell research.  Last year, New Jersey became the first state to create a publicly funded umbilical cord and placental blood bank for use in medical treatment and stem cell research.

Where: The Valley Hospital

             The Valley Hospital Auditorium

             223 N. Van Dien Avenue

             Ridgewood, New Jersey

             http://www.valleyhealth.com/the_valley_hospital.asp

When: Friday, January 13, 2006 at 1:00 p.m.

Contact: Marilyn Riley, 609-984-7160

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