Division of Research Immunology/
Bone Marrow Transplantation
UCMG physicians in the Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation provide diagnosis and medical management of patients with diseases treatable by bone marrow transplantation, including all aspects of pre- and post-transplant care. Diseases include immune deficiency disorders (congenital or acquired), hematological disorders, malignancies and genetic disorders.
The Division offers an eleven-bed nursing unit specifically for bone marrow transplantation with a one to two nurse-to-patient ratio and two full-time social workers. Histocompatibility testing is performed at CHLA, and the laboratory is accredited by the American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics. Full Blood Bank support with aphoresis capability is available. CMV negative blood products are provided when indicated. Complete pediatric radiation therapy is available. Bone marrow transplantations are performed using histocompatible, haploidentical and matched unrelated bone marrow and cord blood.
Bone Marrow Transplant Program
The Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is one of the largest and most highly regarded pediatric BMT programs in the world. The program is focused on improving the treatment of children with immunologic, oncologic and genetic disorders. UCMG physicians are leaders in developing techniques to provide the benefits of bone marrow transplant to those children who lack a suitable family donor. These methods include the use of matched unrelated donors, both bone marrow and cord blood, mismatched T-cell-depleted marrow transplants and autologous bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell transplants.
Many of the patients come from outside the Southern California area, thus the physicians and staff have extensive experience in dealing with the special needs of patients and families and can ably assist them with transportation and housing arrangements. In addition, a Ronald McDonald House is located adjacent to CHLA.
Program Elements
UCMG physicians within the program perform all types of transplants, including:
- Histocompatible marrow transplant from sibling donors
- Histocompatible marrow transplant from related donors
- 5/6 antigen-matched marrow transplant from sibling or related donors
- 6/6 or 5/6 antigen-matched marrow transplant from unrelated donors
- Haploidentical T cell depleted marrow transplant from related donor
- 6/6 - 3/6 antigen-matched related/unrelated donor cord blood transplants
- Autologous purged/unpurged transplants
- Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplants
The UCMG physicians and the Bone Marrow Transplant Program are renowned for their many innovative research and clinical advances:
- CHLA is one of the principal referral centers in the United States for children with severe combined immune deficiency (SCID or "bubble baby" syndrome). During the last 15 years more than 60 children with this otherwise fatal disorder have been referred to UCMG physicians at CHLA for bone marrow transplantation.
- UCMG physicians at CHLA broke new scientific ground in 1993 when they were the first in the world to use gene therapy to treat newborns with severe combined immune deficiency.
- UCMG physicians have pioneered the use of non-irradiation conditioning regimens for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), which can decrease the long-term side effects such as cataracts, sterility and secondary cancers.
- Robertson Parkman, M.D., Division Head
- Gay M. Crooks, M.D.
- Neena Kapoor, M.D., Clinical Director
- Donald B. Kohn, M.D.
- Ami J. Shah, M.D.
- Kenneth I. Weinberg, M.D.
HOW TO CONTACT US
The Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation welcomes your inquiries. To contact us you can:
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| Call the Division directly at: | (323) 669-2546 | |
Write to us at: |
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation Childrens Hospital Los Angeles 4650 Sunset Blvd., #62 Los Angeles, CA 90027-6062 |
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