BMT Core: Southeast Bone Marrow Transplant Consortium

Emory University, Atlanta GA

Investigators

Abstract

The SE-BMT Consortium has grown from the former UF Consortium (UF and Emory). The extended collaboration now includes Emory's Winship Cancer Institute (Emory), the University of Florida (UF), the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the University of Miami (UM). This extended collaboration will support the development and activation of phase 2 and 3 clinical trials utilizing hematopoietic stem cell and adoptive cell-based therapies via the BMT CTN. Benefitting from historical collaboration and shared regional coverage, the institutions have emphasized broadening patient access, particularly for those in rural areas and other historically underrepresented settings. The SE-BMTC institutions have demonstrated strong capabilities in enrollment on BMT CTN studies, biospecimen collection, data integrity, and quality control. The Consortium has integrated pediatric programs from UAB and UF and anticipates increased accrual from Emory Pediatrics. To support continued BMT CTN participation, the SE-BMTC will pursue three aims: 1. Design and implement innovative clinical trials through the BMT CTN steering committee, using stem cell and cell-based therapies to meet the medical needs of patients with cancer, hemoglobinopathies, and marrow failure syndromes. 2. Efficiently enroll patients who are representative of the Southeast U.S. population and contribute biospecimens and data to the BMT CTN biorepository to enable correlative science and future research. 3. Support career development for early-stage investigators and facilitate outreach efforts to expand trial awareness and participation across the Southeast region. To achieve these aims, experienced transplant and cell therapy physicians at each site will coordinate to streamline local research efforts and integrate them within the BMT CTN framework. The SE-BMT Consortium draws upon the strengths of each institution: Emory will lead outreach and recruitment efforts due to its extensive regional clinical infrastructure; UF will provide expertise in cellular immunotherapy and preclinical-to-clinical translation; UAB will contribute its leadership in clinical trial design and execution; and UM will bring nationally recognized excellence in transplant outcomes and innovation in CAR T therapy. The SE-BMTC team includes members from benign hematology and pediatric transplant programs, supporting enrollment across a range of clinical populations. Communication across sites will be maintained through regular virtual meetings and an annual in-person consortium gathering. The SE-BMT Consortium remains committed to advancing the goals of the BMT CTN by improving access to and outcomes from hematopoietic stem cell and effector cell therapies.