JACIE Activity report 2025

2025 marks a step change for JACIE as it continued with a high level of operational activity whilst transitioning into a new governance model. None of this work would be possible without the active and committed community of Centres and the Inspectors contributing their time and expertise to the benefit of the JACIE community. 

The EBMT General Assembly voted for JACIE to become a Working Party (WP) in the Annual Meeting 2025 and hence, for the first time, JACIE now has a permanent representation at the EBMT’s governing body – Scientific Council and the Board of Association. Following the change to a Working Party status, JACIE has amended its governance structure to fit within the WP framework. The Working Party Board includes representatives from all JACIE Committees and Task Forces. In addition, JACIE WP was delighted to welcome Dr Joaquim Vives as the ISCT representatives to the WP Board. He takes up his role after Dr Fermin Sanchez-Guijo Martin stepped down in summer 2025.

JACIE WP also said goodbye to Dr Lynn Manson as the first WP chair in October 2025 with Dr Charles Crawley stepping up as an interim WP Chair. 

Restructure of the governance structure whilst maintaining oversight on JACIE’s operational activities has been challenging, but has also opened up opportunities to discussion a wider publication and educational strategy for JACIE.

JACIE continued its strong performance in inspection and certification. This was only possible due to the commitment and sheer hard work by the inspectors and the members of the Assurance (Accreditation) Committee. 

The number of applications received by JACIE reduced significantly in 2025. This is due to the impact of Covid in 2021-22. As the certification cycle is four years, centres due to apply for re-certification was understandably low in 2025. 

Inspection activity remained strong and JACIE carried out 93 inspections in 2025 (91 in 2024) matching the number of inspections in 2024. In addition, JACIE collaborated in three joint inspections with FACT under Stepwise initiative in Latin America. JACIE also expanded its geographical reach with first JACIE inspections in India and China.

The high level of inspection activity for the last two years was also reflected in the increase in the number of certifications in 2025. Total of 84 centres completed the certification process in 2025 in comparison to 71 in 2024. JACIE WP Board thanks all the members of the Assurance (Accreditation) Committee meeting fortnightly to review and provide oversight to the inspection and reporting processes and enhancing objectivity of the overall process. 

FACT and JACIE published the 9th Edition of the FACT–JACIE International Standards for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) and the 3rd Edition of the International Standards for Immune Effector Cells (IEC) in October 2025. These updated Standards represent a major milestone in the continuous effort to promote quality, safety, and excellence in cellular therapy worldwide, reflecting the rapid scientific, clinical, and regulatory developments in the field.

EBMT and JACIE extend sincere gratitude to the Standards Development Sub-Committee co-chairs and the committee members for their outstanding commitment, expertise, and collaborative spirit throughout this extensive revision process. Their rigorous review, thoughtful debate, and dedication ensured that the Standards remain scientifically robust, clinically relevant, and globally applicable, while continuing to support centres in delivering the highest levels of patient care.

The publication of these new editions would not have been possible without the substantial voluntary contributions of time and knowledge from all involved including the centres and the individuals who responded to the public consultation. EBMT and JACIE warmly thank everyone who contributed to this important achievement and acknowledges their essential role in advancing quality standards for hematopoietic cell transplantation and immune effector cell therapies worldwide.

In 2025, three Inspector Training Courses were delivered in Rome, Italy; Bern, Switzerland, and Berlin, Germany, in conjunction with Centro Nazionale Trapianti (CNT), Swiss Blood Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (SBST), and Deutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Hämatopoetische Stammzelltransplantation und Zelluläre Therapie (DAG-HSZT) respectively. Through these collaborations, a total of 75 new inspectors were trained. Inspector training days remain a highlight of the JACIE calendar, and we are grateful to our partner organisations for their continued support and commitment to strengthening the inspector community.

JACIE also continued its grants programme to support inspectors’ participation in the 51st Annual Meeting of the EBMT, held in Florence, Italy. The initiative continues to provide valuable opportunities for learning, networking, and collaboration, and remains a much valued Inspector incentive. In total, 77 grants were awarded, enabling inspectors to attend the meeting either in person or virtually.

Throughout the year, the Inspector Committee (JIC) organised and delivered five Inspectors’ webinars, offering important updates on the Standards and support to inspectors on the inspection process. These webinars were available to all inspectors live, and continue to be available as recorded sessions, ensuring broad access and ongoing engagement across the community. 

JACIE Quality Managers Committee (QMC) co-published a paper with the GOCART Coalition in November 2025. The paper is based on a survey conducted in January 2025 among hospitals across Europe and beyond, yielding responses from 146 institutions. View the publication "Operational burden and fragmented implementation in CAR T-cell therapy: Insights from a multinational survey by the GoCART Coalition and the JACIE Quality Managers Committee"

In addition, the QMC also debuted their first podcast on 18 December 2025, continuing the series into 2026.