By | Meer Iqbal
Srinagar: Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Department of Blood Transfusion & Immunohematology (BT & IH) hosted a Grand Round Meeting on “Stem Cell Harvest by Apheresis: Experience at the Blood Transfusion Centre.”
The session highlighted peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection and its key role in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for hematological disease patients. Experts also spoke of the growing need for stem cell therapy and research efforts aimed at maximizing collection efficiency.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. M. Ashraf Ganie, Director SKIMS, asserted that the specialty services presented in the Grand Round are exclusive to SKIMS and represent its determination to promote advanced clinical and specialized medical practices. He added that SKIMS is still at the cutting edge of offering state-of-the-art treatment facilities, largely serving patients by making high-quality medical care accessible.
Dr. Rumana Hameed, SKIMS Blood Transfusion Centre Head, emphasized that the department has been a trendsetter in stem cell harvesting for HSCT. She added that the acquisition of advanced technology will further help the department in providing quality services.
The conference ended with a strong focus on research collaborations, training programs for specific purposes, and policy development to further advance stem cell therapeutics at SKIMS, with a view towards sustained excellence in patient care.
