Principal Director and Head, Pediatric Hematology Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon, India
Part 14 of 14 in BMT in Sickle Cell Anaemia and Other Haematological Disorders
What Is Bone Marrow Transplant and How Does It Cure Sickle Cell Anaemia?
August 6, 2026
Bone marrow transplant cures sickle cell anaemia by replacing a patient's diseased blood-forming stem cells with healthy stem cells from a donor, so the body starts producing normal red blood cells instead of sickle-shaped ones. Dr. Vikas Dua, Principal Director and Head, Pediatric Hematology Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon, explains that this is currently the only established cure for sickle cell disease, as gene therapy is still under trial and not yet a proven alternative.
How Stem Cells Cure Sickle Cell Disease
Stem cells used in bone marrow transplant can be sourced from bone marrow itself, from peripheral blood, or from cord blood. Once transplanted, healthy donor stem cells settle in the patient's bone marrow and begin producing normal, healthy red blood cells, replacing the sickle-shaped cells responsible for pain crises and organ damage. Transplants can be autologous, using the patient's own cells, or allogeneic, using cells from a donor. For sickle cell disease, an allogeneic transplant from a healthy, unaffected donor is required, since the condition is inherited and present throughout the patient's own marrow.
A Brief History of Bone Marrow Transplant
The first successful bone marrow transplant, for leukaemia, was performed in 1969, and the first successful transplant for thalassemia followed in 1981. Dr. E. Donnall Thomas, whose pioneering work established transplant medicine, won the Nobel Prize in 1990. Since then, bone marrow transplant in India and globally has become a well-established treatment for a range of blood disorders, including sickle cell disease and thalassemia.
Cancerous and Non-Cancerous Indications for Transplant
Bone marrow transplant is used for both cancerous and non-cancerous conditions. Cancerous indications include blood cancers, myelodysplastic syndrome, lymphomas, brain tumours and neuroblastoma. Non-cancerous indications include aplastic anaemia, inherited bone marrow failure syndromes, immunodeficiencies, sickle cell disease, thalassemia and certain metabolic disorders. For sickle cell disease specifically, transplant is the only option that addresses the root cause rather than just managing symptoms, which is why bone marrow transplant in India has become such an important option for families seeking a permanent solution rather than lifelong supportive care.
Series index | Sickle Cell Disease Burden in Africa: Why Bone Marrow Transplant Matters →
This article is based on a Jivo Masterclass session conducted by Dr. Vikas Dua, Principal Director and Head, Pediatric Hematology Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon, India. The article has been summarised with the assistance of an AI tool from the original masterclass recording. Watch the full Masterclass recording
This guide is based on a live Jivo Masterclass — Dr. Vikas Dua taught doctors across Africa on July 28, 2024.
FROM THE LIVE Q&A
Jivo Doctor Partner (name unclear from transcript)
How long exactly are transplant children kept immunosuppressed?
Dr. Vikas Dua
Usually after one year we stop all the immunosuppression — only 10 to 15% of patients need it for a longer duration, but in the majority of patients we stop immunosuppression after one year of transplant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the umbilical cord transplant about, and is it done for all babies or just sickle cell patients?▼
When a newborn baby is born, from the placental side of the cord, 25 ml of stem cells are collected and go to a public bank or a private bank, and later, if you want to do a transplant, you can use that unit. You can do it for any condition, but in India we don't prefer cord blood transplants because there are quite a number of issues with them — that's why we prefer adult donor transplants over a cord blood unit.
Is there a possibility for transplant in prostate cancer, and are there only two donor registry banks in the world?▼
There is no role of bone marrow transplant in prostate cancer — none, and no research on it either. On registries: the biggest bank is in Germany, the second biggest in the US, but there are many other banks in other parts of the world — there isn't even a single bank in Africa. That's one of the reasons transplants aren't happening in Africa, other than South Africa and some in Benin City, Nigeria. All of you need to come together and have your own registry, so that if somebody requires stem cells, you have your own bank — you people have to come out with the solution.
Can the same principles apply in children with cerebral palsy?▼
That's a very good question, but there is no role of bone marrow transplant in cerebral palsy. There are researches going on about whether transplant helps for cerebral palsy, but we don't have an answer in black and white — at the present moment there is no indication for doing a transplant for cerebral palsy.
Is there any age limit for successful bone marrow transplant in sickle cell disease?▼
Sooner is better — it is better to do a transplant early — but we have done transplants even for adults. I showed a picture of a Nigerian person, Mr. Buhari, whose transplant was done at the age of 34, and he's doing well.
How much does the treatment cost, including accommodation, if the patient travels to India, and how long would they stay?▼
For a matched sibling donor transplant, roughly it is around $25,000 for the transplant; for a half-match transplant it is around $35,000. For accommodation and other logistics you need $10,000 more — so roughly $35,000 for a full match and $45,000 for a half match. The stay is around three months.
How does bone marrow transplant cure sickle cell anaemia?▼
Bone marrow transplant cures sickle cell anaemia by replacing a patient's diseased blood-forming stem cells with healthy donor stem cells, so the body starts producing normal red blood cells instead of sickle-shaped ones.
What is the difference between an autologous and an allogeneic transplant?▼
An autologous transplant uses the patient's own cells, while an allogeneic transplant uses cells from a donor. Sickle cell disease requires an allogeneic transplant from a healthy, unaffected donor since the condition is inherited and present throughout the patient's own marrow.
When was the first successful bone marrow transplant performed?▼
The first successful bone marrow transplant, for leukaemia, was performed in 1969, followed by the first successful thalassemia transplant in 1981. Dr. E. Donnall Thomas, who pioneered transplant medicine, won the Nobel Prize in 1990.
Is bone marrow transplant only used to treat cancer?▼
No. Bone marrow transplant is used for both cancerous conditions, such as blood cancers and lymphomas, and non-cancerous conditions, including sickle cell disease, thalassemia and certain metabolic disorders.
Where can stem cells for transplant be sourced from?▼
Stem cells can be sourced from bone marrow itself, from peripheral blood, or from cord blood.
In This Series: BMT in Sickle Cell Anaemia and Other Haematological Disorders
- 1.Bone Marrow Transplant for Sickle Cell Anaemia
- 2.Why Africa Has No Bone Marrow Donor Registry, and How Haploidentical Transplant Solves It
- 3.What Is the Best Age for Bone Marrow Transplant in Sickle Cell Disease?
- 4.Bone Marrow Transplant for Thalassemia in India
- 5.Cord Blood Transplant for Sickle Cell Disease: Is It Used in India?
- 6.Cost of Bone Marrow Transplant for Sickle Cell Anaemia in India
- 7.HLA Typing and Donor Matching for Bone Marrow Transplant in India
- 8.Matched Sibling vs Haploidentical Transplant for Sickle Cell Disease
- 9.Non-Myeloablative Conditioning: Reducing Infertility Risk in Sickle Cell BMT
- 10.Life After Bone Marrow Transplant: Recovery and Immunosuppression
- 11.Who Needs a Bone Marrow Transplant for Sickle Cell Disease?
- 12.Cure Rates for Sickle Cell Bone Marrow Transplant: What the Data Shows
- 13.Sickle Cell Disease Burden in Africa: Why Bone Marrow Transplant Matters
- 14.What Is Bone Marrow Transplant and How Does It Cure Sickle Cell Anaemia?