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Indiana Blood & Marrow Transplantation (IBMT) at Franciscan Health Cancer Center Indianapolis is marking its 25th year. Lori Price, president and CEO for Franciscan Health Central Indiana, stated, "Congratulations to everyone who is part of the Indiana Blood and Marrow Transplantation program on their 25th anniversary." Price noted the program's growth and expressed optimism about future innovations.
Originally launched by Dr. Jan Jansen and Dr. Luke Akard in the late 1980s, IBMT moved to Franciscan in 2000. Dr. Akard commented, "The IBMT program was started to provide state-of-the-art care in a convenient setting, both for inpatient and outpatient services."
IBMT offers chemotherapy followed by transplantation, using either the patient's stem cells or those from donors. Dr. Felix Mensah highlighted the treatment's benefits, saying, "Treatments available at IBMT for some diseases offer cure or prolongation of life."
CAR T-cell therapy is a recent addition to their offerings. Dr. Anand Tandra explained, "The IBMT program offers an option for patients with complex hematologic malignancies...to have diagnosis and treatment in Indianapolis rather than travelling outside of the state."
Looking ahead, Dr. Akard shared insights, stating, "During the next 25 years, it is anticipated that better understanding of the immune system's ability to control malignancies will change the treatment landscape of all cancers."
With April being National Donate Life Month, those interested in donating marrow are encouraged to visit the National Marrow Donor Program online for more information. Further details about the program can be found at Franciscan Health Cancer Center Indianapolis.
