Sanford Health in Fargo begins second phase of bone marrow transplants

FARGO — The Bone Marrow Transplant program at Sanford Health in Fargo is officially in its second phase.

The first phase began in October of 2021, when they performed their first autologous transplant, where a patient's own stem cells are used.

Since that time, they have performed more than 30 of these transplants.

Now they are set up to regularly perform allogeneic bone marrow transplants, the kind that need stem cells from a healthy match.

Sanford will now have to rely on the Be The Match database, where people around the world can register as potential donors.

Dr. Seth Maliske, the director of the blood and bone marrow transplant program at Sanford, says being able to do these transplants in Fargo will improve the process for many in the region.

"Compared to year's past, when they'd have to travel to Minneapolis or Rochester for this transplant, they can now spend those days closer to home," Maliske said.

Sanford is planning to begin the third phase, called CAR-T cell therapy, this spring.