Research is the key to finding better treatment options for bone marrow transplant patients. Researchers around the world are looking for ways to provide more hope to patients that require a bone marrow transplant:

Improved bone marrow transplant procedures aimed at minimizing the risk of life threatening complications such as infection and graft vs. host disease

Alternative sources of stem cells such as umbilical cord blood

Partial-match (haploidentical) stem cell transplants

Better ways of matching bone marrow donors to patients

The Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association sponsors bone marrow transplant related research taking place in Canadian universities and hospitals. We are always looking for new projects to sponsor. If you are a researcher working in a Canadian university or hospital, contact us today to find out how we can contribute to your project at info@givemarrow.net.

In 2007, the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association was pleased to make a contribution of five thousand dollars to the research project conducted by Dr. Claude Perreault of the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer at the University of Montreal. Dr. Perreault and his team have identified 17 genes that indicate that a candidate bone marrow donor may be "dangerous" in terms of causing graft vs. host disease (GVHD) in the receiving patient following the transplant.

GVHD is a serious, some times fatal complication of bone marrow transplants. According to the National Marrow Donor Program, "In GVHD, the immune cells from the donated marrow or cord blood (the graft) attack the body of the transplant patient (the host). GVHD can affect many different parts of the body. The skin, eyes, stomach and intestines are affected most often. GVHD can range from mild to life-threatening." Dr. Perreault is working to develop a simple test to screen candidate donors prior to being selected to determine if they would put the recipient at a higher risk for GVHD.

Dr. Claude Perreault is the Principal Investigator, Immunobiology Laboratory, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer. He is also a Full Professor, Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal and a Hematologist, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital. He is currently the Canada Research Chair in Immunobiology. Additional information about Dr. Perreault and his work can be found here:

Profile at IRIC
French language article published in FORUM
Globe and Mail article

The Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association will continue to support Dr. Perreault's research on an ongoing basis. This is only possible thanks to the help of our generous supporters. If you would like to make a donation, follow the link on our ways you can help page.