New Delhi

Spotlight on haematopoietic stem cell research

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Singapore Medicine and Delhi Society of Haematology jointly organised a seminar here on Sunday on the advances in haematopoietic stem cell research and treatment.

This seminar serving as a platform for exchange of knowledge between leading physicians from Singapore and India brought together more than 60 Indian medical specialists including paediatricians, physicians, haematologists, and medical oncologists. Haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is a complex procedure for replacing unhealthy stem cells with healthy ones.

Allen Eng Juh Yeoh, consultant (paediatrics) and faculty in the Department of Paediatrics at National University of Singapore and William Hwang Ying Khee, consultant in the Department of Haematology at Singapore General Hospital addressed the seminar.

Said Dr. Allen: "Haematopoietic stem cell research and treatment is for childhood leukaemia which is the most common form of childhood cancer, accounting for 40 per cent of new cases diagnosed each year in most countries. It is now curable in up to 80 per cent of children, in developed countries including Singapore. The current treatment trial at National University of Singapore features highly personalised therapy that accurately predicts the outcome for childhood leukaemia from the outset so that the optimal therapy can be delivered to maximise cure and minimise long-term side-effects."

Added Dr. William, "Over a lakh haematopoietic stem cell research and treatment have been performed around the world, saving countless lives from cancer and diseases of the blood and the immune system. Newer approaches have shown good preliminary results and further enhancements are currently in the pipeline, which is what we shared during the seminar."

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