Director lauds first successful Infant Bone Marrow Transplant at SKIMS
Director SKIMS, Prof. (Dr.) M. Ashraf Ganie congratulated the Department of Clinical Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences for successfully performing the first infant Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (Bone Marrow Transplant) in an eight-month-old child diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and life-threatening immune disorder, a statement issued by the hospital said. .
He described the achievement as a major milestone in advanced cellular therapy and bone marrow transplantation services in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and appreciated the dedicated efforts of the transplant team and reiterated the institute’s commitment towards strengthening and expanding world-class hematology and transplant care facilities within the region.
The infant had been suffering from severe manifestations of HLH, a condition characterized by uncontrolled immune system activation leading to persistent fever, multiorgan involvement, and potentially fatal complications. For children affected with this disorder, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation remains the only curative treatment option. Without timely transplant intervention, survival in such infants remains extremely poor.
Following extensive evaluation and meticulous multidisciplinary planning, the child successfully underwent the stem cell transplant and is being discharged today in a stable condition.
Dr. Sajad Ahmad Geelani, Professor & Head, Department of Clinical Hematology and BMT, stated that this landmark achievement marks a major milestone for the transplant programme at SKIMS and reflects the institution’s growing expertise in managing highly complex disorders requiring advanced cellular therapies, the statement added.
Dr. Reashma Roshan, Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Hematology and BMT, stated that performing a transplant in such a young infant requires exceptional clinical precision, highly specialized infrastructure, and comprehensive supportive care throughout the transplant journey. She added that the successful outcome reflects the dedicated efforts of hematology and bone marrow transplant specialists, pediatric intensive care experts, nursing staff, transfusion medicine services, laboratory teams, and allied healthcare professionals.
Dr. Afaq Ahmad Khan, Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Hematology and BMT, stated that this accomplishment represents new hope for children suffering from rare immunological and hematological disorders and reinforces the institution’s commitment to providing state-of-the-art transplant services within the region.
At the time of discharge, Director SKIMS Prof. M. Ashraf Ganie personally interacted with the child’s family and expressed satisfaction and happiness over the successful outcome. He congratulated the entire transplant team for achieving this important milestone in cellular therapy at the institute.
The Department of Clinical Hematology expressed sincere gratitude to the Director, SKIMS, for his constant support, encouragement, and vision in strengthening advanced hematology and transplant services at the institute.
