The partnership will provide free high-resolution HLA typing for Thalassemia patients and their potential family donors (siblings, parents)
DKMS Foundation India is supporting the Christian Medical College (CMC), Ludhiana and the Government of Punjab to facilitate affordable transplant care in the state. DKMS Foundation India, through this partnership with CMC Ludhiana and the Government of Punjab, will provide free high-resolution HLA typing for Thalassemia patients and their potential family donors (siblings, parents).
It is important to note that HLA typing is the first step towards a potential cure for thalassemia and blood cancers. HLA are proteins found on most cells in the body.
Through this collaboration:
- DKMS Foundation India will support free HLA typing for patients and their immediate family members.
- CMC Ludhiana, under the MoU with the Punjab Government, will offer subsidised stem cell transplantation to eligible patients.
- The program will prioritise remote and underserved areas, expanding awareness about DKMS Foundation India’s mission, its cause, and its thalassemia programme.
Patrick Paul, Chairman, DKMS Foundation India, underlined DKMS’s commitment to helping economically challenged patients get a second chance at life. He says, “We are happy to support our partners CMC Ludhiana with the Government of Punjab. Our role is to ensure that patients from economically disadvantaged backgrounds have access to the first step toward a potential cure—high-resolution HLA typing. While some patients may find a match within their family, the rest must rely on unrelated donors from global registries. However, due to India’s genetic diversity, finding a match is especially challenging. Only 0.09 per cent of the Indian population of the relevant age is registered as a blood stem cell donor. This can leave many patients without a viable option.”
The partnership will benefit 150–160 Thalassemia patients in the state.
“With DKMS Foundation India’s support, we are now better positioned to reach those patients who need blood stem cell transplants the most,” said Dr Joseph John, Professor & Head of Clinical Haematology, Haemato-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at CMC Ludhiana. “The partnership is a significant step towards bringing relief to Thalassemia patients and underscores the commitment of all the partners involved to reduce the disparity in accessing lifesaving treatment for Thalassemia in the high-burden regions in India,” he added.
