Allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is commonly used to treat blood cancers, where a donors blood cells are used to treat a patients disease. Every year, roughly 60,000 patients across the world undergo allogenic stem cell transplantation. A common side effect of stem cell transplantation is the development of graft-versus-host disease, whereby the donor cells attack healthy tissue in the recipient, leading to disease. In roughly half of cases, this disease progression can be prevented through steroids, however more advanced and disabling Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) occurs when steroid treatment is ineffective. In the U.S. for instance, roughly 5,000 patients develop cGVHD every year. Dr. Pavletics team has discovered a new treatment for steroids refractory cGVHD called pomalidomide, which has treated successfully cGVHD in roughly half of patients. This treatment has completed phase II clinical trial, and holds the promise to helping thousands of patients across the world.

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