What we discuss in IBMFS
The presenting signs and symptoms of bone marrow failure disorders (BMFS) are varied and may be silent or mimic other common, less serious disorders, and therefore are often overlooked or misdiagnosed leading to suboptimal outcomes.
The Bone Marrow Failure Disorders Symposium will provide updates on the most recent research related to the biology and clinical management of bone marrow failure disorders, including aplastic anemia, Fanconi anemia, Diamond Blackfan anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and other rarer bone marrow failure syndromes.
National and international haematology/oncology clinicians and researchers will deliver talks on the latest advances in the diagnosis, genetic characteristics, pathology and treatment options for these diseases. The overall goal of this symposium is to facilitate the translation of research findings into clinical practice and to improve the care of the patients with bone marrow failure diseases.
This program will use an integral mix of didactic presentations and case histories to depict the scope of effectively recognizing, diagnosing, and recommending treatments for a group of rare bone marrow failure diseases. The presentations will provide necessary background on the etiology, pathogenesis, differential diagnosis of these conditions and important treatment options.

Who it is aimed at?
- Hematologists, Pediatricians, Pathologists and Scientists.
- Researchers involved in understanding the biology and pathogenesis of bone marrow failure diseases.
- MD and PhD students who are interested in understanding the biology, diagnosis and treatment of bone marrow failure diseases.
How will this benefit?
- Provide accurate differential diagnosis of bone marrow failure diseases, including aplastic anemia (AA), Fanconi anemia (FA), Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA), Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and other inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBFMS).
- Critically appraise recent advances in research on the genetic characteristics of bone marrow failure diseases.
- Summarize recent progress in understanding the pathogenesis of bone marrow failure diseases.
- Describe safety and efficacy data for currently available therapies for bone marrow failure diseases.
- Identify current therapeutic standards, as well as new and emerging therapies used in hematopoietic cell transplantation.
Topics to be covered
- Molecular basis and treatment of Fanconi anemia.
- Pathophysiology and management of aplastic anemia.
- How to distinguish idiopathic aplastic anemia from IBMFS.
- Molecular pathology and management of low and high-risk MDS.
- Application of cytogenetics, proteomics and genomics in bone marrow failure syndromes.

About Christian Medical College - Vellore
Christian Medical College, Vellore, widely known as CMC, Vellore, is a private, Christian community-run medical school, hospital and research institute. This Institute includes a network of primary, secondary and tertiary care hospitals in and around Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
The institute, constituent college is affiliated with the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University. Founded in 1900 by an American missionary, Dr Ida S. Scudder, CMC Vellore has brought many significant achievements to India, including starting the first College of Nursing in 1946, performing the first reconstructive surgery for leprosy in the world (1948), performing the first successful open heart surgery in India (1961), performing the first kidney transplant in India (1971), performing first bone marrow transplantation (1986) in India and performing the first successful ABO incompatible kidney transplant in India (2009).
About Dept. of Haematology
The Department of Clinical Haematology looks after and treats people with blood related disorders. These include blood cancers (Leukemia, Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma), disorders associated with low haemoglobin (various types of anaemia – including thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia), bleeding disorders (haemophilia and others), and other rare diseases. Stem cell transplantation for leukemias, lymphomas, myelomas and other disease like hemoglobinopathies, primary immunodeficiency etc are done in the department. The department is also engaged in teaching and training of doctors and medical students and is involved in various research activities.
Haematology services had started in Christian Medical College, Vellore dating back to 1950s by Dr. Selwyn Baker. Dr. Mammen Chandy was instrumental in the development of the department to its present status. Under his pioneering leadership, we conducted the first stem cell transplantation for thalassemia in 1986. He was involved in the setting up of the first sustained bone marrow transplantation programme in the country. He started several clinical initiatives in haematology and mentored many faculty members of the department. Due to his efforts we also have a well established molecular diagnosis laboratory. Today, clinical and laboratory haematology programme at CMC Vellore has grown to become the most prominent one in the country in terms of patient numbers, research publications and training.