This elective provides an introduction to bone marrow transplantation and its role in lethal acquired hematological diseases (aplastic anemia and leukemia) and genetic diseases, such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, thalassemia, and certain white cell disorders. Students will be introduced to the clinical and biological basis of marrow transplantation, the basic concepts of immunogenetics and their importance in the selection of recipient and donor matches, and the principles of management of transplant related disorders such as graft failure, graft versus host disease, and transplant-associated infections, as well as techniques for removing T-cell or alternatively selecting pro genitor cells for transplant purposes.
Students will accompany the attending and fellow during daily rounds and will attend weekly Marrow Transplant Rounds with other members of the Service.
During the rotation, students will also have an opportunity to visit the various immunology and hematology laboratories that interact with the marrow transplant program and observe those laboratory techniques that are used to evaluate donors and recipients. Students will observe a bone marrow transplant and will participate in other modes of transplantation used for patients lacking a matched donor, i.e., T-cell depleted marrow grafts and partially matched marrow grafts.
