About the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program

A message from Dr. Craig A. Mullen Welcome to the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at the Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong. Our seasoned staff is involved in hands-on care and are experienced decision makers. The tissue typing we perform is state-of-the-art. In addition, we have all transplant products available to our patients.

The Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at the Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong was established in August of 1989, when the first autologous transplant was performed on a 9-year-old boy with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Since then, more than 200 transplants have been performed on children 9 months of age to young adults.

The first pediatric allogeneic transplant was performed in February 1990 on a 15-year-old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The first pediatric unrelated donor transplant was performed in June of 1992 on a 5-year-old boy with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The first cord blood transplant was performed here in August of 1998 on a 4-year-old boy with acute myelogenous leukemia.

About the Transplants We've Performed

Most of the transplants in our pediatric program are autologous (44%). Related donors make up about 30% of the pediatric transplants, while unrelated donors are about 25%.

Approximately 85% of the pediatric transplants performed here are on patients diagnosed with an acute leukemia. Grouped by autologous and allogeneic, pediatric and young adult patients at our center have received transplants for:

Autologous

Clinical Trials

To provide our patients with access to the most recent innovations in transplantation, we participate in a number of clinical trials. We collaborate in many multi-center trials sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, the Pediatric Blood Marrow and Transplant Consortium, and the Children’s Oncology Group. We have an active clinical research program in transplantation.

About Our Facility

Our inpatient unit is a combined adult and pediatric unit with 12 beds. Two additional rooms are designated as inpatient/outpatient (IPOP) rooms that can accommodate four patients at a time for pre- and post-transplant outpatient services. Special care has been taken to make the combined unit “child-friendly.” Our pediatric patients have easy access to other facilities associated with the Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong, including playrooms and recreational areas.

Support Services

The childhood cancer support group CURE was founded at our hospital, and continues to offer additional help to pediatric patients and their families. Our local Ronald McDonald House is within easy walking distance and offers a caring atmosphere and the solace of shared experiences with other families dealing with a child’s illness.

Our BMT Staff

The BMT staff is represented by many of the disciplines associated with transplant, from experienced child life counselors, laboratory specialists, and clinical dietitians to pediatric transplant physicians and pediatric nurse practitioners. Of course, all of the new and expanded state-of-the-art pediatric critical care facilities are available on-site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. More information about our pediatric specialists

More Information

For further information on Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation or to refer a patient for a consultation, please call our chief, Dr. Craig Mullen, at 585-273-5372 or the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at 585-275-2981.