Department of Bone Marrow Transplants and Cellular Therapy

The Department of Bone Marrow Transplants and Cellular Therapy comprises 25 rooms catering to individuals, with 3 specifically designated for cellular therapies such as CAR T-cell and a dedicated space for cellular immunological treatments like TIL in melanoma. All rooms are equipped with air filtration systems, maintained at positive pressure, and adhere to stringent quality standards.

The department is the largest of its kind in Israel and boasts an outstanding reputation. Each year, around 240 transplants take place here - a third of all donor transplants (allogeneic) are carried out at the Sheba department. The department is an honorary member of international transplant organisations, led by the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT). Within this framework, Prof. Nagler serves as vice-chairman of the committee for transplants in acute leukemia.

The department and its related units, which handle tasks such as stem cell collection, transplant processing, and management of the umbilical cord blood bank, have successfully obtained several international certifications, including JASSIE, JCI, FACT/NETCORD, and AABB.

Within the department, we carry out autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplants using donations from a matched family member, foreign donor, or partially matched (Haplo) donors. The transplants are sourced from peripheral blood, bone marrow, or umbilical cord blood, primarily using stem cells gathered as part of the hematopoietic stem cell collection service.

Bone marrow transplants are mainly performed in patients with conditions like leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, along with other blood disorders such as myeloproliferative diseases, myelofibrosis and amyloidosis. In rare cases, they are used for non-malignant conditions like aplastic anemia or thalassemia. Experimental transplants are performed in a research framework in solid tumors and autoimmune diseases.

In the department's CAR T-Cell unit, we offer the latest cellular treatments, with some exclusive to Sheba. We are the largest European centre for CAR T-Cell Therapy, having treated over 100 patients to date.

Additionally, novel medications and treatments, including microbiota, are available, some of which are part of clinical trials in graft-versus-host disease patients.