The Institute's Bone Marrow Transplant program uses a comprehensive, multidisciplinary team approach to evaluating and treating patients candidates for bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplant.

The team conducts transplants featuring the most technologically-advanced medical methods using all sources of stem cells: autologous (patient’s own stem cells); allogeneic from a related donor; allogeneic from an unrelated donor; and cord blood stem cell transplantation.

Team members focus on the needs of each patient, family members and referring physicians.

Team physicians see new patients Monday through Friday. They and other members of the team, including representatives from the transplant coordinator office, social work, histocompatibility laboratory and finance, meet every Wednesday, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., to discuss treatment plans for new and pending patients.

Candidates for unrelated donor transplantation are discussed separately in greater detail in a donor selection meeting on Tuesday with the physicians, immunogeneticists and coordinators. Afterwards, patients are presented with the team recommendations for treatment that may be administered either at the Institute, or in collaboration their referring physicians.

Qualifications of Members  

The Institute’s bone marrow transplant team includes specialists in medical hematology and oncology who bring years of previous experience in the field of transplantation. They are actively involved in clinical research in bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells transplants and are integral members within our National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. 

Team Members

Voravit Ratanatharathorn, M.D. (Co-Leader), Hematology & Medical Oncology
Joseph Uberti, M.D., Ph.D, (Co-Leader), Hematology & Medical Oncology
Muneer Abidi, M.D., Hematology & Medical Oncology
George Alangaden, M.D. Infectious Disease
Zaid Al-Kadhimi, M.D. Hematology & Medical Oncology
Lois Ayash, M.D., Hematology & Medical Oncology
Pranatharthi H. Chandrasekar, M.D. Infectious Disease
Roland Chu, M.D., Pediatrics
Lawrence G. Lum, M.D., D.Sc. Pediatrics/Immunology
Yaddanapudi Ravindranath, M.D., Pediatrics
Sureyya Savasan, M.D., Pediatrics
Ayman Soubani, M.D., Internal Medicine

Danielle Baillargeon, Physician Assistant
Carla Baker, Physician Assistant
Karen Birt, Nurse Practitioner
Rita DiBiase, Nurse Practitioner
Jessica Diver, Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Program
Alanna Kurosky, Nurse Practitioner
Laurie Mancini, Nurse Practitioner
Stephanie Mellon-Reppen, Nurse Practitioner
Jennifer Wedge, Nurse Practitioner
Janell Wilcox, Physician Assistant

The team also includes representatives from the Institute's Clinical Trials Office.

Clinical Trials

Members of the Institute’s Multidisciplinary Bone Marrow Transplant Team have vast experience in clinical research focusing on graft-versus-host disease, novel preparative regimen and immunotherapy. Many patients have the opportunity to participate in investigator-initiated and cooperative group sponsored clinical research trials at the Institute.

Investigations focus on reduced intensity regimens and the prevention and treatment of graft-versus-host disease. Stem cell transplant outcomes at the Institute’s are consistently among the highest in the United States.

Unrelated donor transplantation at the Institute, using an alternative source of stem cells for patients who do not have a sibling donor, is one of the country’s most active. It uses a novel conditioning regimen to prepare patients for transplantation that reduces morbidity and enhances outcomes.

The Institute maintains the only cord blood stem cell bank in the state of Michigan. These cord blood units are registered with the National Marrow Donor Program and are accessible to transplant centers worldwide. Cord blood transplantation is feasible in select patients without an unrelated or sibling donor. Find more information about cord blood and cord blood donation by visiting Kamanos Cancer Institute's J.P. McCarthy Cord Stem Cell Bank website.

Patient Participation

Patients who benefit most from a consult with the Institute’s Multidisciplinary Bone Marrow Transplant Team include those with:

• Various stages of hematologic malignancies (such as some forms of acute and chronic leukemias, and lymphomas);
• Thalassemias;
• Hemoglobinopathy;
• Severe combined immune deficiency;
• Congenital metabolic disorders; and
• Selected solid tumor (such as brain tumor and renal cell carcinoma).

On Appointment Day

Each patient receives personal attention from the Multidisciplinary Bone Marrow Transplant physicians and nurse coordinators. A team physician evaluates the patient, reviews the patient’s records, X-rays and pathology slides, and presents the case to the Multidisciplinary Bone Marrow Transplant Team.

After the team conference, this physician shares the team’s recommendations with the patient and family members the same day. At the patient’s request, this discussion of may be audiotaped to review at a later time with family members not present at the visit. Expedited appointments are available for any tests or procedures that are required before a final recommendation can be made.

Appointments

Referring physicians or patients may call (800) KARMANOS (1-800-527-6266) or email bmt@karmanos.org.  A specially trained program coordinator answers questions and schedule appointments. In urgent situations, a referring physician may request to discuss a case with a member of the Multidisciplinary Bone Marrow Transplant team. Arrangements to see patients on urgent bases may be made at the patient’s convenience.

Patients should bring the following to their appointments:

• Medical records from recent care provided outside the Institute;
• Chest X-rays, CAT scans of the chest, abdomen and brain, bone scans, and whole body PET scans if available;
• Pathology slides and reports; and
• Any recent blood tests.

The Multidisciplinary Bone Marrow Transplant Team (BMT) is located at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute’s Wertz Center, 4100 John R, Detroit, Michigan. Valet parking and ample security are available.