UNC Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Program achieves outstanding outcomes

The Center for International Bone Marrow & Transplant Research, an international organization dedicated to improving transplant outcomes, publishes outcomes data each year for transplantation centers across the United States. 

In its most recent report covering the years 2007-2009 (published in 2011), UNC Cancer Care’s Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Program was rated an “overperforming” center.  Based on a risk adjusted assessment, UNC’s bone marrow and stem cell transplant patients had a much higher survival rate than expected, despite the high level of complexity of the cases that were treated. These results were for all patients who underwent a transplant from a related or unrelated donor.  Out of 156 centers from across the country, UNC was one of only 14 to achieve this ranking.

“We are extremely pleased to achieve this distinction as these excellent results reflect the hard work and dedication of the many faculty and staff at UNC who are involved with our program," said Thomas Shea, MD, Associate Director for Outreach at UNC Lineberger and Director of the UNC Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Program. Read more.

Thomas C. Shea, MD, Associate Director for Outreach at UNC Lineberger and Director of the UNC Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Program talks about the program's unique features including patient and caregiver education. Watch video.

The educational DVD titled "You are the Key" guides patients through the process of a bone marrow transplant at UNC. It includes information about a potential patient's first visit to UNC, pre-transplant work-up, BMT admission and post-transplant follow-up care. It also features interviews with patients who have received a transplant at UNC as well as interviews with their caregivers.

For more information or to request a copy of the DVD, email S. Elizabeth Sharf, RN, BSN, CHTC  or call her at 919-966-7516. Or, visit the UNC BMT program page to view the video online.

Referrals and Clinical Trials

Treatment and quality of life studies are available for patients with multiple myeloma, Hodgkin Lymphoma, non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, acute and chronic leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes and for treatment and prevention of complications such as graft versus host disease.

For more information about clinical trials, call 919-966-1568.

For new patient appointments, call 919-966-0931.