Srinagar, June 23: Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) has successfully performed its first Matched Unrelated Donor (MUD) Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation on a three-year-old child suffering from Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and potentially life-threatening disorder caused by severe immune system dysregulation.
The achievement marks a significant milestone in advanced hematology and transplant medicine in Jammu & Kashmir and represents a major step forward in the availability of highly specialized healthcare services within the region.
Addressing a press conference, Director SKIMS/EOSG Prof. M. Ashraf Ganie, accompanied by specialists from the Department of Clinical Hematology, described the successful transplant as a landmark accomplishment for the institution. He congratulated the transplant team and stressed the importance of increasing public participation in stem cell donor registries.
Prof. Ganie appealed to people to register as potential stem cell donors, noting that 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.
He also announced that SKIMS would actively promote stem cell donor registration and facilitate access to donor registry information through its official platforms to encourage greater community participation in the life-saving initiative.
The transplant was carried out by the Department of Clinical Hematology using stem cells obtained from a fully matched unrelated volunteer donor from Poland. The donor was identified through DKMS, one of the world’s largest stem cell donor registries.
In a significant humanitarian gesture, DKMS waived donor procurement charges, substantially reducing the financial burden on the patient’s family and making the potentially curative treatment accessible.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Sajad Geelani, Head of the Department of Clinical Hematology, along with Associate Professors Dr. Reshma Roshan and Dr. Afaq Ahmad Khan, highlighted the department’s growing expertise in stem cell transplantation. They said the transplant programme at SKIMS is being conducted in accordance with national and international standards and has achieved outcomes comparable to leading transplant centres.
The specialists noted that Matched Unrelated Donor transplantation is among the most complex procedures in modern medicine, requiring extensive donor-recipient matching, international coordination, specialized laboratory support and intensive clinical monitoring.
They said the process, from identifying a suitable donor through DKMS to coordinating stem cell collection and transportation across international borders, required meticulous planning, teamwork and technical expertise.
“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,” the specialists said.
They further observed that many patients with severe hematological and immunological disorders do not have suitable family donors available, making Matched Unrelated Donor transplantation the only curative option in many cases.
The experts said the achievement underscores the need to strengthen transplant programmes, increase awareness about stem cell donation and expand collaborations with national and international donor registries.
“Every successful transplant brings renewed hope to patients and families facing life-threatening diseases,” they added.
The successful procedure is being viewed as a major advancement in the region’s healthcare capabilities and a significant step toward expanding access to advanced transplant services for patients in Jammu & Kashmir.
