Blood and Marrow Transplantation (BMT)

Our Team

Our BMT team is working hard to discover new ways to fight cancer and other diseases in some of our sickest kids. We are using the latest in cell-based immunotherapies to leverage and bolster the body's natural ability to fight cancer. The team comes to work every day with the hopes of helping our families through some of the most difficult moments they may ever have.

Rolla F. Abu-Arja

Rolla Abu-Arja, MD serves as BMT Section and Clinical Director of the Blood and Marrow Transplant program. Dr. Rolla is a nationally known expert in malignant and non-malignant blood and bone marrow transplant and providing care for patients around the world.

Our Clinics

Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic

The Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Clinic provides care to patients and families before and after transplant.

Psychosocial Services

As an integral part of the care team, the Psychosocial Services Program is one of the most comprehensive in the country. We ensure patients and their families have every resource needed socially, emotionally and psychologically.

Support Services

• AYA Oncology Program
• Genetic Counseling and Testing
• Fertility preservation
• Nutrition
• Physical therapy
• Psychology/psychiatry
• Palliative care
• Radiation oncology
• Pain management

Clinical Trials

Learn more about current Blood and Marrow Transplant clinical trials at Nationwide Children's.

Learn More

Resources for Families

Your Child Needs a Bone Marrow Transplant: What's Next?

Children requiring a bone marrow transplant are referred to a pediatric transplant center. Such centers have experience performing transplants and caring for children, adolescents and young adults after they receive a bone marrow transplant.

Is My Child at Risk for Infection After a Bone Marrow Transplant?

A bone marrow transplant involves taking those stem cells from a donor and putting them into a patient. The patient usually has received chemotherapy or radiation before receiving the donor stem cells.

Mold in Children's Hospitals: What Parents Need to Know

For children with healthy immune systems, mold exposure from the environment is not dangerous. Some people who are sensitive to molds might develop allergy symptoms due to chronic exposure to high amounts of mold.

We're building the future of pediatric medicine. Join us. 

The Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital offers a one-year BMT fellowship for qualified physicians who completed a basic 3-year program in pediatric hematology/oncology and who wish to pursue further training in pediatric blood and marrow transplantation.

Graduates will be competent in the use of transplantation and cellular therapy for the treatment of malignant or non-malignant diseases. Specifically, the program trains physicians in indications for transplant; pre-transplant patient evaluation; identification and selection of stem cell sources; use of donor registries; methodologies of HLA typing; marrow cryopreservation; management of ABO incompatible cell products; administration of high-dose chemotherapy; management of neutropenic fever; management of bacterial/viral/fungal diseases in immunocompromised patients, management of bleeding diathesis, diagnosis and management of regimen related toxicities, diagnosis and management of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease, late complications of marrow transplantation; terminal care; as well as training in documentation and reporting for patients being treated on investigational trials.

Trainees gain experience in bone marrow harvest; stem cell apheresis; stem cell product infusions; and advanced cell processing techniques. Trainees are also encouraged to participate in protocol design and development and complete a clinical research project related to transplantation during the course of their training.

Pediatric Blood Marrow Transplant and Cell Therapy Fellowship

The BMT/CT Fellowship is a one-year fellowship for qualified physicians who have completed a basic three-year program in pediatric hematology/oncology and wish to pursue further training in blood and marrow transplantation.

Download our Fellowship Brochure