New Delhi, Sep 28: RGCIRC successfully organised BMT Conclave 2026 – “Guarding the Graft: Nursing Care and Infection Control in BMT” on September 26, 2026. The day-long academic programme brought together specialists, nurses and healthcare professionals involved in bone marrow transplantation to discuss the clinical, nursing, infection-control and operational complexities of BMT care.
The conclave focused on the highly specialised nature of bone marrow transplantation and the critical role nurses play at every stage of the patient journey. Sessions covered the physical set-up of a BMT unit, preparation before transplant, conditioning therapy, donor management, stem cell collection, nursing responsibilities, post-transplant complications and newer treatment approaches such as CAR-T cell therapy.
The programme opened with a session on “BMT Unit Physical Set-up: Building an Infection-Safe Environment,” chaired by Dr. Narendra Agrawal, Senior Consultant & Unit Head – Hemato Oncology & BMT, RGCIRC. The discussion highlighted the importance of carefully designed transplant units, strict infection-prevention practices and trained nursing teams in protecting immunocompromised patients.
This was followed by sessions on BMT pre-work-up and conditioning therapy, BMT introduction and nursing perspectives, and peripheral blood stem cell collection, including donor preparation and nursing responsibilities. Another session on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation explored the fundamentals of transplantation and the nursing care required throughout the process.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Narendra Agrawal said,
“Bone marrow transplantation is one of the most complex treatment pathways in oncology and hematology. Success depends not only on the transplant procedure itself, but also on meticulous infection control, continuous monitoring and coordinated nursing care. A well-trained BMT team is therefore central to creating a safe environment for patients at a time when they are particularly vulnerable.”
The afternoon sessions addressed post-BMT management in paediatric patients, with emphasis on complications and nursing interventions, followed by an overview of CAR-T cell therapy. These sessions reflected how transplant and cellular therapies are becoming increasingly sophisticated, requiring nursing teams to continuously update their knowledge and clinical skills.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Dinesh Bhurani, Director – Department of Haemato-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, RGCIRC, said,
“Bone marrow transplantation is a highly specialised and intensive treatment journey that requires seamless coordination across multiple disciplines. As the complexity of transplant and cellular therapies continues to evolve, strengthening clinical expertise, communication and patient-centred care has become increasingly important. Platforms such as BMT Conclave provide an opportunity for healthcare professionals to share experiences, learn from each other and collectively advance the standards of transplant care.”
A key highlight of the conclave was the panel discussion on “Unique Complexities in BMTU – Tracking Emotional, Clinical and Operational Challenges,” moderated by Col. Madhumita Dhall, Director of Nursing, RGCIRC. The panel included experts from hemato-oncology, microbiology, infection control and BMT nursing, and explored the many layers of care required in a transplant unit, from clinical vigilance and infection prevention to emotional support and operational coordination.
Col. Madhumita Dhall said,
“BMT nursing demands a unique combination of technical competence, discipline, empathy and constant vigilance. Nurses are often the professionals who remain closest to patients throughout this highly intensive journey. Their ability to identify changes early, maintain infection-control standards and provide emotional reassurance can have a direct impact on the patient experience and quality of care.”
The programme also featured “BMT – A Lifesaving Journey,” a video-based presentation that reflected on the transplant experience from a broader patient-care perspective.
Through BMT Conclave 2026, RGCIRC reinforced the importance of specialised nursing education, multidisciplinary coordination and rigorous infection-control practices in bone marrow transplantation. Guided by its core values of Ethics, Empathy and Excellence, the institute continues to strengthen professional training and collaborative care models that support safer treatment and better outcomes for patients undergoing complex hematological therapies.
