Stem Cell Transplants for Children

The Hematopoietic (Stem) Cell Transplant Program at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center is one of the largest and most experienced pediatric stem cell transplant programs in the world. Our integrated pediatric hematology/oncology program through Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital provides — in one specialized program — all the services of both a leading cancer center and leading pediatric hospital.

What is a stem cell transplant?

A pediatric hematopoietic cell transplant, also called a stem cell transplant or bone marrow transplant, is the infusion of healthy stem cells into the body to stimulate new bone marrow growth. Stem cells are vital to a person's ability to fight infection. Stem cell transplants are performed on children whose stem cells have been damaged by disease or invasive treatments for cancer such as chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.

A stem cell transplant is used to treat many types of conditions affecting children and young adults. While traditionally used to treat cancers and blood disorders, hematopoietic cell transplants are increasingly being used to treat a growing range of conditions, including metabolic diseases, genetic immunodeficiencies, and other disorders.

Our expertise

The Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Hematopoietic (Stem) Cell Transplant Program performs more than 100 stem cell transplants each year for children and young adults with many types of cancer and other conditions and has performed nearly 1500 stem cell transplants to date - making us one of the largest and most experienced pediatric stem cell transplant programs in the world. Our pediatric stem cell transplant team includes some of the world's most experienced and knowledgeable pediatric stem cell transplant doctors and scientists, as well as nationally recognized pediatric specialists. We see to it that your child receives the highest level of care before, during, and after transplant to ensure the best results.

We regularly participate in national outcomes reporting and have played a major role in developing outcomes metrics and standards, as well as analyzing patient outcomes data. Capturing this data ensures that we provide the highest standard of care. Moreover, our transplant outcomes surpass national averages.

Learn more about how stem cell transplants are used to treat blood disorders on the Boston Children’s Hospital website.

Learn more about how stem cell transplants are used to treat cancer on the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute website.