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India’s rising thalassemia burden is intensifying the demand for life-saving stem cell transplants, putting the spotlight on the country’s persistent shortage of matched donors. Against this backdrop, DKMS is ramping up its stem cell donor and transplant efforts, pushing for wider donor registration and faster access to potentially curative treatment for patients battling the inherited blood disorder.
DKMS Foundation India and Sankalp India Foundation have marked a major milestone in the fight against thalassemia with ‘1,000 New Beginnings’, a landmark celebration of 1,000 paediatric stem cell transplants. It brings to the fore; the lives transformed through potentially curative treatment and underscores the critical role of collaboration in tackling gaps in thalassemia care.
Alongside healthcare and community partners, the organisations will spotlight the journeys of the 1,000 children who underwent lifesaving transplants and examine how stronger partnerships, wider donor access and sustained support can help make high-quality stem cell treatment more accessible to patients across India.
Every transplant represents more than a medical milestone—it marks a child’s journey toward a healthier future and a family’s story of courage, hope and resilience. To this end, we see India as a critical market with significant and growing opportunities to transform care for people living with blood disorders, particularly thalassemia, said Dr. Elke Neujahr, global chief executive officer, DKMS Group here at a select press briefing.
With the country carrying a substantial burden of the disease, there is an urgent need to expand access to timely diagnosis, matched stem cell donors and high-quality transplant care. Currently, India has a limited donor registry and low awareness. By working closely with healthcare providers, patient organisations, policymakers and other partners, we aim to help build a stronger stem cell donor ecosystem to ensure more patients especially children have access to potentially curative treatment, said Patrick Paul, executive chairman, DKMS India.
Providing details from a clinical trial perspective, Prof. Johannes Schetelig, chief scientific and medical officer, DKMS Group, said that a human study aimed at treating cytomegalovirus (CMV), one of the most common and serious viral infections occurring in patients after transplantation is currently underway in Ahmedabad and Bengaluru.
The clinical trial, which commenced in December 2025, is expected to conclude early next year. DKMS is assisting Sankalp India Foundation in adhering to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards while conducting the human study, which is planned to enrol 40 patients. Currently, 30 patients are participating in the trial. The outcome of the study could have significant implications to manage CMV infections in post-transplant patients, added Prof. Schetelig.
The Foundation has three lakh donors and has helped 300 patients receive a second chance at life, an effort of timely medical support in India. There are six collection centre set-up pan-India at Bangalore Medical Services Trust (BMST) in Bengaluru, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, Tata Medical Centre-Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Kolkata, Rela Institute and Multispecialty Hospital Chennai and Fortis Mulund. It has collaborated with several healthcare providers including CMC Vellore to strengthen access to life-saving care and giving hope to families when they need it most, said Paul.
In July this year, the Foundation announced the DKMS Impact Grant, to support physician-scientists in Central and South America, Africa, and South and Southeast Asia. Here out of 44 applicants, nine are from India.
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