Srinagar: The Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) has achieved a landmark milestone in advanced hematology and transplant medicine with the successful completion of its first Matched Unrelated Donor (MUD) Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in a three-year-old child diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and potentially life-threatening disorder caused by severe immune system dysregulation.
Addressing a press conference, Director SKIMS/EOSG Prof. M. Ashraf Ganie, accompanied by specialists from the Department of Clinical Hematology, highlighted the significance of the achievement and described it as a major advancement in the delivery of cutting-edge healthcare services within Jammu & Kashmir.
Prof. Ashraf Ganie congratulated the transplant team for the successful outcome and emphasized the urgent need for greater public participation in stem cell donation. He appealed to people to come forward, register as potential stem cell donors, and contribute to saving lives.
“Many patients suffering from life-threatening blood and immune disorders can only be cured through stem cell transplantation. Public awareness and participation in donor registries can significantly improve the chances of finding suitable donors for such patients,” he said.
The Director further announced that SKIMS will actively promote stem cell donor registration and facilitate access to donor registry information through its official platforms, encouraging greater community participation in this life-saving initiative.
The highly specialized transplant was performed by the Department of Clinical Hematology using stem cells obtained from a fully matched unrelated volunteer donor from Poland, identified through DKMS, one of the world’s largest stem cell donor registries. In a remarkable humanitarian gesture, DKMS waived the donor procurement charges, substantially reducing the financial burden on the patient’s family and enabling access to this potentially curative treatment.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Sajad Geelani, Head, Department of Clinical Hematology; Dr. Reshma Roshan, Associate Professor; and Dr. Afaq Ahmad Khan, Associate Professor, elaborated on the procedure and highlighted the department’s growing expertise in stem cell transplantation.
They stated that the transplant programme at SKIMS is being conducted in accordance with international and national standards of care and has demonstrated outcomes comparable to leading transplant centres.
The specialists explained that Matched Unrelated Donor transplantation is among the most complex procedures in modern medicine, requiring meticulous planning, extensive donor-recipient matching, international coordination, specialized laboratory support and intensive clinical monitoring.
“From identifying a suitable donor through DKMS to coordinating stem cell collection and transportation across international borders, every step demanded precision, teamwork and unwavering commitment. The successful outcome reflects the expertise and dedication of the entire transplant team and demonstrates that highly advanced transplant services can be effectively delivered within our institution,” they said.
Highlighting the broader significance of the achievement, the experts noted that many patients with severe hematological and immunological disorders do not have a suitable family donor available. For such patients, Matched Unrelated Donor transplantation often represents the only curative option.
“This success underscores the importance of strengthening transplant programmes, increasing awareness regarding stem cell donation and fostering collaborations with national and international donor registries. Every successful transplant brings renewed hope to patients and families facing life-threatening diseases,” they added.
The Department of Clinical Hematology also expressed sincere gratitude to Director SKIMS for constant support & DKMS for its invaluable generosity in waiving donor procurement charges, thereby facilitating this life-saving treatment.
Special appreciation was extended to all faculty members, senior and junior residents, transplant coordinators, nursing officers, blood bank personnel, laboratory scientists, technicians, pharmacists, infection control teams, intensive care staff and supporting departments whose dedication, expertise and teamwork were instrumental in the success of this complex procedure.
The father of the young patient expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Director and medical team at SKIMS. He shared that after consulting multiple centres outside the region, he finally found hope at SKIMS where doctors assured him that the condition was treatable and successfully performed the transplant.
This achievement marks the successful establishment of Matched Unrelated Donor Transplantation Services at SKIMS, significantly expanding treatment options for patients suffering from complex blood and immune disorders and reinforcing the institute’s commitment to providing state-of-the-art, life-saving therapies within Jammu & Kashmir.
What is a Matched Unrelated Donor (MUD) Transplant?
A Matched Unrelated Donor (MUD) transplant is a type of stem cell transplant in which a patient receives healthy blood-forming stem cells from a volunteer donor who is not related to them but whose tissue type closely matches their own.
When a suitable donor is not available within the patient’s family, physicians search national and international donor registries to identify a compatible donor. Once a match is found, stem cells are collected from the donor and transplanted into the patient to replace diseased or damaged bone marrow.
Advances in donor matching, transplant techniques and supportive care have significantly improved the safety and success of MUD transplantation, making it a life-saving treatment option for patients who otherwise have limited therapeutic alternatives.
