The (Connell and O'Reilly Families) Cell Manipulation Core Facility (CMCF), at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) was created in 1996 to be a facility where normal and neoplastic human cells can be manipulated in preparation for transfusion or injection into human subjects enrolled on clinical trials. The goal of this facility is to assist DF/HCC investigators in developing new cell-based therapies for cancer and to support clinical research studies designed to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of these novel treatments. This facility currently supports a large number of clinical trials that require extensive in vitro cell manipulation. These cellular therapies include processing of hematopoietic progenitor cells for autologous or allogeneic transplantation, generation of tumor vaccines using genetic or culture mediated modification of tumor cells and preparation of immune cell populations for adoptive cellular therapy.

The mission of the Cell Manipulation Core Facility is to produce safe and effective cellular components for novel therapeutic clinical research protocols. To fulfill this mission all procedures are performed according to current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) for cell and tissue processing. The policies and procedures established in the facility comply with all current accreditation agency and governmental standards and regulations, ensuring the production of safe, effective components for clinical use. Cellular products processed by the CMCF are provided in the context of clinical research protocols that have been reviewed and approved by the DF/HCC Scientific Review Committee and Human Subjects Protection Committee.

The CMCF is available to both clinical and laboratory investigators at all DF/HCC institutions and will provide services to patients at all DF/HCC affiliated hospitals. The staff of the CMCF are committed to working with DF/HCC investigators at all levels of clinical trial development and execution, including pre-clinical development, trial design, DF/HCC and FDA review, data management, quality control, internal and external audits as well as reports and publications. The Cell Manipulation Core Facility (CMCF) has been accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Hematopoietic Cell Therapy (FAHCT) laboratory. The CMCF is a member of the Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine.

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