Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant for Metabolic and Immune Disorders

The Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Program for Metabolic and Immune Disorders is dedicated to treating your child’s condition through innovative therapies based on research performed at Children’s National Hospital. 

While BMT¹ is often used for treating cancers, it can also be used to treat non malignant disorders, such as problems with the immune (defense) system and inborn errors of metabolism. These conditions significantly affect your child’s ability to fight off disease (immunodeficiency) or turn food into energy (inborn errors of metabolism). BMT has been found to be an effective treatment for these conditions, and each year, a high volume of patients come to Children’s National for our specialized expertise.

The Nation’s Foremost Experts in Immunodeficiency Transplants

The Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Program for Metabolic and Immune Disorders is led by Blachy Dávila Saldaña, M.D., one of the only BMT physicians in the country with advanced training in transplant for immunodeficiencies. Our program is recognized as a leader in developing cutting-edge treatments for children with complex primary immune deficiencies, making us one of the only dedicated programs of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic region.

We are at the forefront of research involving cytotoxic T cell therapies against several viruses, providing ways to eradicate these infections in children who are not able to do so on their own. This superior level of expertise means your child will receive the best possible care from a multidisciplinary team, which includes specialists in BMT, genetics, neurology, ophthalmology, neuropsychology, orthopaedics, nutrition, physical therapy and social work.

Conditions We Treat

Our team treats a broad range of disorders that affect a child’s immune system or metabolism, including:

• Severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome (SCID) 
• Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS)
• Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD)
• Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)
• I-kappa B-alpha mutation
• Reticular dysgenesis

What to Expect During Treatment

At Children’s National, our team will provide you with the resources and support you and your child will need throughout the transplant process. To provide you with a step-by-step guide of the process, we've created a timeline detailing your child's diagnosis, treatment and long-term care: