Blood & Marrow Transplant

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Why Choose Us for Your Blood & Marrow Transplant Treatment

University of Utah Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program at Huntsman Cancer Institute combines world-class expertise, rigorous safety standards, and compassionate, personalized care—giving you access to industry-leading resources and a dedicated team trained specifically in stem cell and marrow transplants. We are accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy, meaning we meet the highest national standards of quality, safety, and care in cellular therapy and transplantation.

Whether you need treatment for leukemia, lymphoma, other blood or marrow disorders, or noncancerous blood conditions, we offer both autologous and allogeneic transplant options—for adults and children alike—in collaboration with Primary Children’s Hospital.

Beyond standard transplant care, Huntsman Cancer Institute is a hub for innovation and research. We offer access to cutting-edge clinical trials, including novel approaches that expand donor availability and transplant options for patients who need them most.

Above all, our multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, and support staff works together to guide you and your family through every step: from evaluation and transplant to recovery and long-term follow-up.

What We Offer: Comprehensive Transplant & Cellular Therapy Services

Types of Transplants

Autologous transplant

Using the patient’s own stem cells: for cases where high-dose chemotherapy or radiation is needed, then healthy cells are returned to rebuild bone marrow.

Allogeneic transplant

Using stem cells from a donor (family member, friend, or unrelated donor via registry) when a full match is possible.

Stem cells may be collected from bone marrow or peripheral blood. The transplant replaces diseased marrow with healthy cells so the body can rebuild new, healthy blood and immune cells.

Who We Treat

Our blood and marrow transplantation (BMT) program treats adults with a wide range of conditions:

Blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma
Blood and bone marrow disorders—even noncancerous conditions like low blood counts or myeloproliferative disorders.

Supportive & Cellular Therapies

Huntsman Cancer Institute’s BMT program is part of a broader cellular therapy and regenerative medicine structure. Services may include stem cell processing and storage, cord blood infusion, immunotherapy (such as CAR T-cell therapy for eligible patients), and related clinical trials.

We also offer dedicated pharmacy support for transplant and cellular therapy patients, helping manage specialty medications, coordinating refills and mail order when appropriate, and advising on insurance/coverage concerns.

Cutting-Edge Research

Our BMT program is not just about established therapies. We’re also actively advancing the field. For example, we successfully performed the first allogeneic stem cell transplant using a deceased donor graft, broadening access for patients who lack a living donor and potentially reducing wait times.

Clinical Trial Access

Because we are affiliated with a major university and cellular therapy/regenerative medicine program, eligible patients may also have access to additional immunotherapies, experimental treatments, or novel transplant techniques beyond standard care.

Search for Related Clinical Trials

Getting Started: Your First Steps

Talk with your hematologist/oncologist. They can refer you to our BMT team for evaluation.
Call 801-587-7000 to schedule an appointment or get more information.
For donor transplants: If you don’t have a matched donor, we can work with you to search volunteer registries or evaluate donor options (including new research-based grafts).
If you’re a potential donor: Talk with us about what’s involved—donation may include peripheral blood stem cell harvest or bone marrow collection, depending on your matching status.

Our Commitment: Excellence, Compassion, Innovation

At Huntsman Cancer Institute, our goal is to restore your health, rebuild lives, and offer hope. With an experienced, multidisciplinary team, rigorous safety standards, and a robust clinical-research program, we are dedicated to delivering the best possible outcomes for BMT patients and their families.

Whether you need a standard transplant or are interested in exploring advanced or experimental therapies, our team stands ready to guide you every step of the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evaluation & Preparation
Before transplant, you’ll work with our BMT team to assess your condition. This includes matching for donor-based transplants, collecting your stem cells if needed, and preparing for high-dose treatment.
Transplant & Hospital Stay
Post-treatment, patients typically remain hospitalized for a variable period (often several weeks) depending on the type of transplant, recovery progress, and any complications.
Post-Transplant Recovery & Long-Term Care
After discharge, the BMT team—in collaboration with your oncology clinicians—continues to monitor blood counts, immune recovery, and overall health. Patients have access to follow-up care, rehabilitation, integrative wellness services, and support resources to help navigate recovery.

Bone marrow is a spongy tissue inside your bones that makes blood cells. A bone marrow transplant is a procedure to replace the blood-forming cells (stem cells). First, the patient receives chemotherapy, radiation, or both, to kill cancer cells and healthy cells in the bone marrow. Then, the patient receives new stem cells through an IV. The new stem cells make healthy blood cells.

The only difference between a bone marrow transplant and a stem cell transplant is where the transplanted stem cells come from. Stem cells form in bone marrow, but some of those cells go into the blood stream. If the stem cells for the transplant come from bone marrow, the treatment is called a bone marrow transplant. If the stem cells come from the bloodstream, the treatment is called a peripheral blood stem cell transplant, or stem cell transplant for short.

This depends on your disease and on what you want. Your doctor can guide you, but you make the final decision. Talk through all treatment options with your doctor to figure out what is best for you. Write down questions and concerns about the bone marrow transplant and bring a list to the next doctor’s appointment. Here is a list of questions to ask your doctor if you or a family member are thinking about this treatment.

Patients stay at the hospital anywhere from 30–100 days after they receive their transplant. The recovery time differs, depending on these things:
- The type of transplant
- How the body reacts to the transplant
- Whether any other illnesses happen after the transplant
Before treatment, the patient’s doctor can give an idea of how long the stay may be. But that may change after the transplant.

You will need to be tested to see if you are a match. Talk with your family member and their doctor about getting tested.
Even if you don’t have a family member who needs a bone marrow transplant, you can sign up to be a potential donor. Huntsman Cancer Institute uses the NMDP registry, formerly known as the Be The Match registry, to find donors for patients who need a bone marrow transplant.