High quality, innovative care

Welcome to the Northwestern Medicine Stem Cell Transplantation and Cell Therapy Program. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve you and your family. The Stem Cell Transplant Program was established in 1987 to provide high-quality, innovative care by putting patients and their families first and by advancing the biology of stem cell transplantation.

Our program is a leader in volume and types of transplants, averaging over 350 transplantations per year, resulting in survival rates consistently exceeding the national survival rate.

About stem cell transplant

Stem cells are immature cells that develop into red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and more stem cells. Most stem cells are found in bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside large bones, but stem cells are also found in the blood stream.

The stem cells found in bone marrow and blood are hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells, not embryonic stem cells. Stem cell transplantation is a transfusion of stem cells given to patients whose stem cells and bone marrow have been destroyed by chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Stem cell transplantation and bone marrow transplantation are different only in the way that the stem cells are collected. In bone marrow transplantation, bone marrow is collected from the hip bone in a surgical procedure. In stem cell transplantation, stem cells are collected from the blood stream through a process called apheresis.

Stem cell transplant team

Your Stem Cell Transplant Program team includes:

• Doctors
• Advanced practice nurses
• Transplant coordinators
• Schedulers
• Financial service coordinators
• Pharmacists
• Lab technicians
• Blood center nurses
• Social workers

We are here to help you and your family throughout the course of your treatment.

The Stem Cell Transplant team provides care for specialty areas, including:

• The Mathews Center for Cellular Therapy
• Rube Walker Blood Center
• Stem Cell Transplant Clinic in the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center

Stem cell transplant treatment

We understand the commitment that a stem cell transplant takes and wish to support you and your family during this entire process. In recognition of this commitment, please review the Patient’s Bill of Rights, the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant treatment agreement, and sign. You may add any issues to the agreement that we have not addressed. The purpose of this agreement is to discuss your specific needs, as well as the expectations of the health care team.

Please know we are committed to providing you the best experience possible and look forward to working with you and your family. If at any time you or your family have questions or concerns and are not sure who to ask, contact us. Call 312.695.0990 for more information about stem cell transplantation, we are happy to help.