Foundation stone of Centre for Bone Marrow Transplant and Stem Cell Research laid at IMS-BHU

Varanasi, January 23, 2013: The Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University achieved another milestone in the development of patient care and advancement in the field of research. Today, Vice Chancellor Prof Lalji Singh performed ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ and laid the foundation stone of Centre for Bone Marrow Transplant and Stem Cell Research near the upcoming Trauma Center on the university campus.

In India thousands of patients require Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) every year. For this ideally 50 BMT centers should be offering the treatment. The patients are receiving treatment from 15 BMT centers across the country. Cost of BMT in India is around Rs 15 to Rs 20 lakhs with the comparable results with advance centres in Europe and America.

Sir Sunderlal Hospital faces a large number of cases requiring BMT annually. Most of them cannot afford to go elsewhere and even if they try, face a long queue for bone marrow transplant. 

Stem Cells are being used to treat various diseases. There are over 45 different diseases related to cancers, immune deficiencies and genetic disorders that are currently treatable with stem cell therapy. Limbal stem cell transplant (tissue cultured) will be a boon to those patients with corneal opacity and will obviate the requirement of corneal transplantation. Likewise autologous stem cell transplant will be of great help to the patients with non union of fracture, osteoarthritis and other bone related problems. Stem cells are also useful in infertility, cardiology and neurological cases. With the development of stem cell applications and research facility, many more diseases will be treatable.

Centre for Bone Marrow Transplant and Stem Cell Research will be built in around one and a half year time. The base work has been done and the project will start in this financial year on turnkey basis and will have state of the art facility. The aim of this facility is to provide treatment at low cost for the people of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. A dedicated multidisciplinary team has been formed to facilitate the development and commissioning of this facility.

Photo and Press release: PPP Cell-BHU