Blood and Marrow Transplant Program (BMT) and Cellular Therapy Program at the Medical College of Wisconsin

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (blood and bone marrow stem cell transplantation) has proven results in several cancers of the blood and blood forming organs, marrow failure and immune deficiency states. In some instances it can cure, in other instances prolong life or improve the quality of life. Diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma that were considered untreatable even a generation ago are now increasingly treated with curative intent with this technique.

Sophisticated research facilities and advanced laboratories are necessary to bring the true benefits of transplantation to patients in need. MCW with its close affiliation with the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry and the Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin, using the excellent treatment facilities of Froedtert Hospital and Children's Wisconsin, is able to bring to patients in need state of the art treatments. The research arm of MCW is contributing to advancing the state of the art in cancer therapy and in the application of stem cell and gene therapy techniques to treat new diseases such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. These advanced techniques require the sophisticated facilities and advanced laboratories and expertise that combine research with treatment of patient diseases.

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BMT Research

Medical College of Wisconsin is also one of the leading centers worldwide for research into blood and marrow transplantation. The Medical College is home to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR). The CIBMTR formed in 2004 brings together two major organizations in the field of blood and marrow transplant research: the National Marrow Donor Program® and the Medical College of Wisconsin's International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry and Autologous Blood and Marrow Transplant Registry. The IBMTR has tracked the outcomes of transplants and conducted research into transplantation since 1972. The CIBMTR (CIBMTR) has also established the Stem Cell Therapeutic Outcomes Database (SCTOD) for the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program (administered by the United States Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)).

The CIBMTR also facilitates and coordinates the Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Clinical Trials Network (CTN). The CTN, established in October 2001 conducts large multi-institutional clinical trials in the field of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. These trials address cutting edge issues in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), increasing the understanding of treatment approaches as well as developing novel ideas in the field. Dr. Bronwen Shah is the Scientific Director of the CIBMTR and coordinates the Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic Trials Network.

MCW Transplant Program

Medical College of Wisconsin has pioneered clinical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as well as research in this field. The Medical College of Wisconsin/Froedtert Hospital Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program and Children's Wisconsin offer autologous, allogeneic, unrelated and mismatched and cord blood transplants. The combined adult and pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program is the largest in the state and has performed transplants for over 35 years. Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin adult program has performed more than 1,000 bone marrow transplants here since 1980. In addition to patients with leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and solid-tumor cancers, patients with non-malignant blood disorders such as genetic anemias, immune deficiencies and sickle cell anemia, and autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis have been treated over the years. The MCW program is accredited by the Foundation for Accreditation of Hematopoietic Cell Therapy and is also approved by/affiliated with the National Marrow Donor Program, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and the Children's Cancer Group.

The goals of the Medical College of Wisconsin blood and marrow transplant programs are to save lives by applying state of the art technology to diseases in which Blood and marrow transplantation has demonstrated effectiveness, to extend the benefits of these treatments into new diseases where before little hope existed, and to improve therapies using genetic and immune manipulations and other targeted approaches that have higher success rates with fewer adverse side effects or complications.

MCW Transplant Team

The clinical program boasts the expertise of a team of internationally renowned transplant physicians who are involved in the leading the effort in making transplants safer and more effective. The program functions as a well integrated team so that the collective expertise of all the physicians is available for the individual patient in addition to that of their primary BMT physician. A dedicated team on exemplary middle level practitioners (Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners) trained in transplantation support the physician team.