Stem cell transplant
A bone marrow transplant is a medical treatment that replaces your bone marrow with healthy cells.
The replacement cells can either come from your own body or from a donor.
Stem cells for transplant can be collected from:
- the bone marrow (in which case the transplant will be called a bone marrow transplant),
- blood circulating in the bloodstream (a peripheral blood stem cell transplant)
- the umbilical cord of a newborn baby (a cord blood transplant).
The stem cells needed for transplant can be either sourced from the patient (called an autologous transplant) or from another person (called an allogeneic transplant).
The transplant process
- collecting stem cells
- conditioning therapy
- infusion
- engraftment.
Cord and Marrow Transplant Program at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick
The Cord and Marrow Transplant Program at Sydney Children's Hospital Randwick is the oldest and largest paediatric transplant program in Australia, with over 900 transplants performed since1975.
Program achievements
- performed the first umbilical cord blood transplant in the Southern Hemisphere
- undertaken more cord blood transplants than any other Australian centre
- celebrated the longest surviving Australian recipient of a bone marrow transplant in 2012
- first paediatric transplant program to achieve international cellular therapy accreditation in Australasia.
Program contact
Associate Professor Tracey O’Brien
Phone: (02) 9382 1733
Email: Tracey.Obrien@health.nsw.gov.au