About Our Research
Because your patients count on you to apply the best therapies that research has identified, we never let up in our efforts to improve the science of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Our observational and prospective research has led to significant improvements in survival and quality of life for people with blood cancer and other diseases.
We conduct research through our research program, CIBMTR® (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research®), in collaboration with Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). This global collaborative effort has resulted in more than 1,750 publications and approximately 250 current studies, driving the quest to save more lives.
Research Activities
CIBMTR has been collecting transplant outcomes data worldwide for more than 50 years, resulting in a research database with information on more than 630,000 patients from more than 375 different transplant centers. Our charge is to collect data on all allogeneic transplants and most autologous transplants in the United States, plus significant data from outside the U.S.
In addition, we lead health outcomes research and worldwide efforts for immunobiology-focused research, through our Research Sample Repository, which contains 2.6 million sample aliquots from more than 47,800 related and unrelated transplant donors, cord blood units, and recipients. CIBMTR is a respected leader in HCT research, collaborating with investigators to provide data, statistical support, and expert analysis to advance the HCT field.
We apply this research to:
- Study social and economic barriers to care and the influence of psychosocial factors on outcomes
- Publish guidelines to develop effective strategies for selecting the best available donor or cord blood unit for a patient
- Increase availability of unrelated donors by understanding donor and recipient genetic determinants
- Contribute to the immunobiological basis of HapLogicTM, our advanced HLA matching algorithm
- Improve HCT outcomes through a better understanding of immune response pathways
Prospective research is conducted through the CIBMTR's RCI BMT (Resource for Clinical Investigation in Blood and Marrow Transplantation) and BMT CTN (Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network), which is funded by the National Institutes of Health. RCI BMT generates data so that innovative ideas can progress to Phase II or Phase III trials. BMT CTN has opened more than 40 multi-institutional Phase II and III trials, completed accrual to 31 trials, involved more than 125 transplant centers, and enrolled more than 9,300 patients.
Access research resources and activities here and through CIBMTR.org:
Impact of Our Research
Significant progress has been made in the HCT field through collaboration among transplant clinicians, researchers, and biostatisticians. These practice-changing findings have contributed to substantial advances in survival and quality of life for hundreds of thousands of transplant recipients around the world.
Research Highlights:
- HLA Match Likelihoods for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Grafts in the U.S. Registry
Clinical Relevance: An overwhelming percentage of patients (91-99%, based on patient ethnic group) who need an unrelated bone marrow or cord blood transplant will have a suitably matched, available donor or cord blood unit on the Be The Match Registry. [ 1 ]
- High-Resolution HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1 Matching Yields Optimal Survival in Unrelated Donor HCT
Clinical Relevance: High-resolution 8/8 HLA matching yields optimal survival in myeloablative unrelated donor HCT, and HLA-DPB1 non-permissive mismatches should be avoided in otherwise matched transplants to minimize overall mortality. [ 2 ]
- High-Resolution Donor-Recipient HLA Matching Improves Outcomes
Clinical Relevance: Expeditious transplantation with the best available donor, even if mismatched, may offer the best chance for survival. [ 3 ]
- Unrelated Cord Blood Transplantation in Adults with Acute Leukemia
Clinical relevance: These data support the use of UCB for adults with acute leukemia when there is no HLA-matched unrelated adult donor available, and when a transplant is needed urgently. [ 4 ]
- Effect of T-Cell-Epitope Matching at HLA-DPB1 in Unrelated-Donor HCT
Clinical relevance: To lower the risk of non-relapse mortality after unrelated-donor HCT, a non-permissive T-cell epitope mis-match at HLA-DPB1 should be avoided if possible. [ 5 ]
- Reduced-Intensity HCT Better than Chemotherapy in Older Patients
Clinical relevance: Reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic HCT in patients age 60-70 with AML in CR1 reduces relapse and improves leukemia-free survival compared to chemotherapy. [ 6 ]
- Effect of Race and Gender on Access to HCT
Clinical relevance: While waiting for further research to better understand disparate access to transplantation, the medical community should work at all levels to eliminate these disparities. [ 7 ]
- Reduced-Intensity HCT for AML/MDS Not Affected by Age
Clinical relevance: Older age along should not be considered a contraindication to hematopoietic cell transplantation. [ 8 ]
- Solid Cancers after Allogeneic HCT
Clinical relevance: Allogeneic transplant survivors, particularly those irradiated at young ages, face increased risks of solid cancers and should receive lifelong surveillance. [ 9 ]
- Secondary Solid Cancers after Allogeneic HCT Using Bu/Cy Conditioning
Clinical relevance: Recipients of allogeneic HCT using Bu-CY conditioning are at risk for developing solid cancers, a risk that increases with time, and so lifelong cancer surveillance is warranted in this population. [ 10 ]
- Comparable Outcomes after Matched Related and Unrelated HCT
Clinical relevance: Transplantation from URD and MRD donors produces similar survival for patients with AML. [ 11 ]
- HCT Outcomes Comparable: Umbilical Cord Blood vs. Bone Marrow in Pediatric Acute Leukemia
Clinical relevance: These data support the use of HLA-matched and one- or two-antigen HLA-mismatched umbilical cord blood in children with acute leukemia who need transplantation. [ 12 ]
- HLA-C Matching Improves Outcomes in Cord Blood Transplantation
Clinical relevance: To minimize mortality risk, matching at HLA-C should be sought for units that are matched at HLA-A, -B, or -DRB1 and for units with a single locus mismatch at HLA-A, -B, or -DRB1. [ 13 ]
- Recommended Screening and Preventive Practices for Long-Term HCT Survivors
Clinical relevance: Because of the HCT recipient's risk of developing long-term complications due to pre-, peri-, and post-transplant exposures, these guidelines offer a systematic follow-up plan for caring for HCT recipients. [ 14 ]
- Bone Marrow vs. Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Randomized Study
Clinical relevance: No differences in patient survival rates between patients receiving transplantation with bone marrow or PBSC from unrelated donors, although GVHD developed more often and was more severe in patients who received PBSC compared with those receiving marrow. [ 15 ]
- Adult Donor (Marrow and PBSC) and Cord Blood Matching Guidelines
Clinical relevance: Those making decisions for selection of adult donor (marrow and PBSC) and cord blood units can apply matching guidelines based on clinical research into the effect of HLA matching on transplant outcomes. [ 16 ]
- Cost and Cost-Effectiveness of HCT
Clinical relevance: A review of contemporary literature on the costs and cost-effectiveness of HCT in the United States and worldwide. This consolidation of available data identifies when HCT is a cost-effective option and where further study is needed. [ 17 ]
- Low Risk of Adverse Events or Cancer after PBSC and Bone Marrow Donation
Clinical relevance: Life-threatening events were very rare in both types of donation: 0.26% for marrow and 0.03% for PBSC donations. Donors receiving granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for PBSC collection had no evidence of increased risk for cancer, autoimmune illness, and stroke. [ 18 ]
- Comparable Outcomes in One-Unit vs. Two-Unit Cord Blood Transplant
Clinical relevance: Among children and adolescents with hematologic cancer, survival rates were similar after single-unit and double-unit cord-blood transplantation. Single-unit cord-blood transplantation was associated with better platelet recovery and a lower risk of GVHD. [ 19 ]
Research Grants
We offer grants to support research that advances the medical science of hematopoietic cell transplantation:
- Amy Strelzer Manasevit Research Program for the Study of Post-Transplant Complications
- Immunobiology research grants for studies approved by the CIBMTR Immunobiology Working Committee
Ensuring Research Integrity
Our research is conducted and reviewed with the highest integrity, ensuring there is no actual or apparent financial conflict of interest that could influence the conduct or review of the research. View our Conflict of Interest Policy (PDF) that describes the requirements of researchers participating in studies with us.
References
- Gragert L, Eapen M, Williams E, et al. HLA Match Likelihoods for Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Grafts in the U.S. Registry. N Engl J Med. 2014; 371(4): 339-348. Access
- Pidala J, Lee SJ, Ahn KW, et al. Non-permissive -DPB1 mismatch among otherwise HLA-matched donor-recipient pairs results in increased overall mortality after myeloablative unrelated allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for hematologic malignancies. Blood. 2014; 124(16): 2596-2606. Access
- Lee SJ, Klein J, Haagenson M, et al. High-resolution donor-recipient HLA matching contributes to the success of unrelated donor marrow transplantation. Blood. 2007; 110(13): 4576-4583. Access
- Eapen M, Rocha V, Sanz G, et al. Effect of graft source on unrelated donor haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation in adults with acute leukaemia: A retrospective analysis. Lancet Oncol. 2010; 11(7): 653-660. Access
- Fleischhauer K, Shaw BE, Gooley T, et al. Effect of T-cell-epitope matching at HLA-DPB1 in recipients of unrelated-donor haemopoietic-cell transplantation: A retrospective study. Lancet Oncol. 2012; 13(4): 366-374. Access
- Farag SS, Maharry K, Zhang MJ, et al. Comparison of reduced-intensity hematopoietic cell transplantation with chemotherapy in patients age 60-70 years with acute myelogenous leukemia in first remission. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2011; 17(12): 1796-1803. Access
- Joshua TV, Rizzo JD, Zhang MJ, et al. Access to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Effect of race and sex. Cancer. 2010; 116(14): 3469-3476. Access
- McClune BL, Weisdorf DJ, Pedersen TL, et al. Effect of age on outcome of reduced-intensity hematopoietic cell transplantation for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia in first complete remission or with Myelodysplastic syndrome. J Clin Oncol. 2010; 28(11): 1878-1887. Access
- Rizzo JD, Curtis RE, Socié G, et al. Solid cancers after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Blood. 2009; 113(5): 1175-1183. Access
- Majhail NS, Brazauskas R, Rizzo JD, et al. Secondary solid cancers after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation using busulfan cyclophosphamide conditioning. Blood. 2011; 117(1): 316-322. Access
- Saber W, Opie S, Rizzo JD, et al. Outcomes after matched unrelated donor vs. identical sibling hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in adults with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Blood. 2012; 119(17): 3908-3916. Access
- Eapen M, Rubinstein P, Zhang MJ, et al. Outcomes of transplantation of unrelated umbilical cord blood and bone marrow in children with acute leukemia: A comparison study. Lancet. 2007; 369(9577): 1947-1954. Access
- Eapen M, Klein JP, Sanz GF, et al. Effect of donor-recipient HLA matching at HLA A, B, C, and DRB1 on outcomes after umbilical-cord blood transplantation for leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndrome: a retrospective analysis. Lancet Oncol. 2011; 12(13): 1214-1221. Access
- Majhail NS, Rizzo JD, Lee SJ, et al. Recommended screening and preventive practices for long-term survivors after hematopoietic cell transplantation. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2012; 18(3): 348-371. Access
- Anasetti C, Logan BR, Lee SJ, et al. Peripheral-blood stem cells versus bone marrow from unrelated donors. N Engl J Med. 2012; 367(16): 1487-1496. Access
- Spellman SR, Eapen M, Logan BR, et al. A perspective on the selection of unrelated donors and cord blood units for transplantation. Blood. 2012; 120(2): 259-265. Access
- Preussler JM, Denzen EM, Majhail NS. Costs and cost-effectiveness of hematopoietic cell transplantation. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2012; 18(11): 1620-1628. Access
- Pulsipher MA, Chitphakdithai P, Logan BR, et al. Lower risk for serious adverse events and no increased risk for cancer after PBSC vs BM donation. Blood. 2014; 123(23): 3655-3663. Access
- Wagner JE, Eapen M, Carter S, et al. One-unit versus two-unit cord-blood transplantation for hematologic cancers. N Engl J Med. 2014; 371(18): 1685-1694. Access