UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Named Center of Excellence by MDS Foundation
| The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute has been designated as a Center of Excellence by the MDS Foundation, making it the only center in Arkansas to become part of the foundation’s referral network of the top bone marrow disorder treatment centers in the world.
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of diverse bone marrow disorders that can progress to acute myeloid leukemia and primarily affect the elderly. In the United States, 20,000 new cases are reported every year, making MDS one of the most common blood cancers. A stem cell transplant is the only curative treatment option for certain types of high risk MDS.
A pioneer in the treatment of blood disorders and cancers, UAMS has been home to Arkansas’ only adult bone marrow transplant center since 1994, performing 12,731 transplants for conditions including lymphomas, leukemias and multiple myeloma.
“To be recognized by the MDS Foundation is a tremendous honor and the result of 30 years of work by many brilliant, dedicated people to achieve the best outcomes for our patients,” said Muthu Veera Kumaran, M.D., medical oncologist and clinical director of the UAMS Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Program. “Our mission is to help patients understand their unique MDS diagnosis, what to expect from it and the appropriate treatments, be it routine blood checks, chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation or clinical trials.”
The MDS Foundation designation is the result of multifaceted efforts including clinical trials, scholarly work and outstanding patient care by the UAMS Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Program, which employs 221 highly trained specialists, including medical oncologists, hematologists, oncologists, nurses and
social workers.
The UAMS Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Program has been accredited by the Foundation for Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) since 2009 and meets the most rigorous standards in every aspect of transplant therapy, from clinical care and donor management to cell collection, processing, storage, administration and cell release.
“This is yet another example of the outstanding cancer care provided by The Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute,” said Michael Birrer, M.D. Ph.D., director of the Cancer Institute and UAMS vice chancellor.