Stem Cell Research Clinical Affiliations

At St. Louis Children’s Hospital, we collaborate with other research hospitals nationwide to identify and study new treatments for children.

We are affiliated with a number of national and international organizations. We work with many of these groups to design and participate in clinical trials looking at new treatments, supportive care and more.

Research Affiliations

Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network

The Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Clinical Trials Network (CTN), established in 2001, conducts large multi-institutional clinical trials. These trials explore important issues in stem cell transplantation. Patients across the country can participate in CTN’s trials.

Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research

The Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) designs, conducts and supports clinical studies that involve large numbers of patients from multiple transplant centers.

These types of studies are needed to answer critical questions in the field of blood and marrow transplantation. CIBMTR is committed to increasing applications of and access to cellular transplant therapy, as well as improving patient outcomes. The ultimate goal is to help more transplant patients live longer, healthier lives.

Children's Oncology Group

The Children's Oncology Group (COG), a cooperative group of more than 230 institutions, is the largest organization focused solely on pediatric cancer research. COG allows physicians and researchers to share data and track patients' progress through standardized treatment protocols. Combining patient results leads to faster clinical trials and more rapid treatment development. This is particularly important because childhood cancer is so rare.

By treating children in clinical trials, COG members have increased the cancer cure rate for children from less than 10 percent in the 1950s to nearly 80 percent at present.

Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium

The Primary Immune Deficiency (PID) Treatment Consortium (PIDTC) consists of 42 centers in North America whose shared goal is to improve the outcome of patients with rare, life-threatening inherited immune system disorders. PIDTC focuses on severe immune disorders that can be cured by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, enzyme replacement or or gene therapy.

Sickle Transplant Advocacy and Research Alliance

The Sickle Transplant Advocacy and Research Alliance (STAR) is a nonprofit organization created by a group of pediatric hematology and stem cell transplant doctors. STAR seeks to cure sickle cell disease by increasing awareness of and access to bone marrow transplants and gene therapy. The organization conducts research on better transplant approaches that safely achieve a cure for the greatest number of people.

Organizational Affiliations

American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy

The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) is a national professional association that promotes the advancement of blood and bone marrow transplantation. ASTCT activities focus on seven broad areas, representing the interests of doctors and researchers in interactions with government, private agencies and industry.

Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium

The Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium (PBMTC) is the leading organization focused on bone marrow transplants in children. Its membership includes more than 70 bone marrow transplant centers in the USA, Canada and Australia. The primary focus of the PBMTC is to enhance the safety, availability and efficacy of pediatric bone marrow transplants.

National Donor Marrow Program: Be the Match

The National Donor Marrow Program manages the Be the Match Registry, the largest and most diverse global bone marrow and cord blood donation registry. Be the Match connects patients with unrelated donors from its registry of over 33 million potential donors.

Be the Match helps patients get treatment and offers financial support and educational resources. Be the Match’s research programs have advanced the science of bone marrow and cord blood transplants, by identifying better methods for matching the right donor to the right patient and improving post-transplant treatment.