Interview with Rocio Ayala Edgerton of NECC

This month, Parent’s Guide to Cord Blood Foundation (PGCB) is interviewing Rocio Ayala Edgerton, the Vice President and General Manager of New England Cryogenic Center (NECC).

PGCB: Please tell us first about the history of NECC.

New England Cryogenic Center was founded as a family-owned business in 1971. Over the years they grew to become one of the world’s largest cryopreservation laboratories for fertility services. Located in Marlborough, Massachusetts, NECC specializes in long-term reproductive tissue storage for over 100,000 specimens. Our mission is simple: to protect reproductive cells and tissue with the highest standards of safety, security, and care, so the specimens are available whenever patients need them. We are FDA registered, and have earned a strong reputation throughout the fertility community for our expertise, purpose-built facilities, and unwavering commitment to the patients and providers who entrust us with their care. NECC has always prided itself on providing continuity and peace of mind to its patients.

PGCB: Many people are hearing about NECC for the first time because they entered into a partnership with Kindbody. Please tell us about that connection.

Kindbody is a US-based chain of fertility clinics that combines tech-enabled patient care with modern, spa-like clinic environments. The Kindbody business model is to move away from multiple small laboratories at each patient clinic, towards regional laboratory services where expertise and efficiency can be concentrated. Ultimately this also makes fertility services more affordable for families.

Earlier this year, NECC agreed to provide long-term cryogenic storage for Kindbody patients, giving their patients access to one of the country's longest-standing cryogenic storage facilities. Our exciting new agreement with Kindbody reflects a shared commitment to patients. We're honored to serve them and provide the same specialized expertise and long-term support that have defined our work for decades. Above all, we want every patient to feel confident that their reproductive tissue is being cared for by a team that is both equipped and deeply committed to caring for it over the long term.

PGCB: What made this arrangement with Kindbody such a natural fit for NECC?

This partnership allows both organizations to do what they do best, ultimately benefitting the patient. Kindbody is focused on delivering fertility care in the clinic and supporting patients throughout treatment. NECC is dedicated, for over 50 years, to building deep expertise in cryogenic storage. Reproductive tissue storage is a long-term responsibility, and we believe it's best served by a provider whose sole focus is protecting it – with the facilities, monitoring systems, and specialized expertise that requires. For patients, the result is continuity on both sides. They can continue their treatments with Kindbody, while their reproductive tissue is held in NECC's state of the art, purpose-built biorepository facility.

I have only been with NECC for the past two and a half years, but I have been working in cryogenic storage and operations since 2009. Through it all, one thing has remained constant: every transition is rooted in earning patients' trust. That's something I've come to admire about the culture at NECC. We have a well-trained team that approaches every patient with empathy, communicates openly throughout the process, and works closely with clinics across the country to ensure long-term storage is a seamless extension of care. Throughout this agreement, our focus has been on setting clear expectations, supporting patients every step of the way, and delivering the level of care we’re known for at NECC.

PGCB: What should patients know about how their specimens are moved to NECC?

NECC has successfully managed transfers of reproductive tissue from various fertility clinics across the country, and every transition follows a well-established process designed to protect the tissue’s integrity. These transfers are conducted by a trusted, specialized medical transport partner using established clinical protocols designed to protect the integrity of reproductive tissue. Throughout the journey, specimens are GPS tracked, maintained under continuous temperature-controlled conditions, and handled exclusively by trained medical couriers.

Once at NECC, reproductive tissue is stored in repository facilities purpose-built for long-term cryogenic storage. Our facilities are supported by advanced liquid nitrogen storage systems, continuous 24/7 monitoring supported by on-site backup power, and experienced cryogenic storage specialists who oversee every aspect of long-term care.

PGCB: What message would you like to share with patients who are joining the NECC community through this agreement?

The patient experience is at the center of everything we do, and it’s why we are committed to providing the highest standards of care for their reproductive tissue. I’ve worked extensively on integration work between fertility clinics for years, and one of the key lessons I've learned throughout my career is that success is always measured by the experience of the patient. We achieve this at NECC through thoughtful planning, close collaboration with fertility clinics, and clear communication. I'm incredibly proud of the team behind this effort to meet Kindbody’s cryogenic storage needs, including the dedicated customer service specialists who understand the emotional complexity of our services.

I understand that for many patients, this transition may come with questions or uncertainty. We're committed to earning their trust, and we don't take that responsibility lightly. Every member of our team understands that the reproductive tissue in our care represents something deeply personal, and we're going to protect it with the same unwavering dedication that NECC has built on for more than 50 years.

As patients become part of the NECC community, I hope they experience not only the confidence that comes with our expertise in long-term reproductive tissue storage, but also explore the other ways NECC can support them throughout their family-building journey, including andrology services and newborn stem cell storage.

Our goal is to give patients peace of mind just as much as it is to achieve operational excellence in cryogenic storage. We’re always here for support, and encourage patients to always reach out with any questions they might have. We’re confident this agreement with Kindbody will be extremely beneficial for patients, and we thank them for putting their trust in us to support their family-building journey.

Rocio Ayala Edgerton is Vice President and General Manager of New England Cryogenic Center (NECC), a nationally recognized provider of long-term reproductive tissue storage. She oversees the business's biorepository, billing operations, organizational design, contract management, and revenue integrity, running it end-to-end. Her background centers on cryostorage for fertility and stem cell preservation. She has since expanded that expertise into broader fertility clinic and lab integration, leading M&A diligence and integration across acquisitions of varying scale. At NECC, she combines that specialist and integrator experience to drive both day-to-day operational performance and long-term strategic direction; building the teams, processes, and partnerships that keep the business running and growing. She holds a B.A. in English from UCLA and is based in Long Beach, California.