Honoring the father of bone-marrow transplantation

Photo by Susie Fitzhugh In the face of a skeptical medical community, Dr. E. Donnall Thomas began infusing patients with donor bone marrow in 1955. In 1975, he joined Dr. William Hutchinson to found the Center, which enabled him to move forward in the establishment of a landmark transplant program.

This month marks the 50th anniversary of Dr. E. Donnall Thomas' seminal New England Journal of Medicine paper that launched a new era of clinical study: the use of bone-marrow transplantation to treat cancer.

A celebration of this lifesaving milestone, which ultimately led to the formation of the Hutchinson Center and in 1990 earned Thomas the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine, will take place Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2-4 p.m. in Sze East/West. There will be a brief program followed by refreshments. Please join the commemoration of this historic achievement.

Read more about Thomas' pioneering work in the September edition of Center News.

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