Republican Research Center for Pediatric Oncology and Hematology

It was founded in October 1997 as the Republican Research Center for Pediatric Oncology and Hematology of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus. The center is the implementation of cooperation between Belarusian and Austrian governments, as well as Austrian organization «Hilfswerk». Today this lovely blue and white building represents our ambitious dreams of the new century medicine.

The specialists of the Belarusian Research Center for Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology provide diagnosis and treatment of oncology (excluding thyroid cancer) and hematological diseases and primary (congenital) immunodeficiency. These diseases are major death cause among children under the age of 18 all over the world after injuries and accidents. Fortunately, we're not talking about the absolute fatality of children cancer. These diseases are to be treated and can be cured. Our current treatment results completely meet the world’s standards, 10-years overall survival of children is 75% (modern data on 20.01.2015); overall survival for some types of cancer is 90% and above.

Given the advances in the treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2010 Center for Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology took the initiative and started to use “children” scheme for the treatment of young adults (age 18-29) with  acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Order of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus № 53 of 23.01.2010 ) . The overall survival for this group of patients has increased (during 4 years) from 19 to 77 %; overall survival of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the age group 0-17 years is 83%.

Since 1998 almost 700 different transplantations been made in our Center. The use of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation gives a chance for children with poor prognosis for whom standard treatment protocols are not effective. A co-transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells helps to reduce the risk of complications and to reduce the recovery period.

Since 2010 the Bank of personal storage of cord blood stem cells functions as a part of the Center for Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology. Cord blood stem cells can be stored in special conditions for more than 20 years, and if necessary, they can be transplanted to the person from whom they were collected at birth. Cord blood stem cells are kind of “insurance” for a person in specific situations. This service is fee for the citizens of the Republic of Belarus and foreigners. But in some cases, if family has a child who needs hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, then apheresis, processing and storage of cord blood stem cells are free for the citizens of the Republic of Belarus.

Cord blood stem cells can be transplanted also to an unrelated recipient after determination histocompatibility. Creation, development and interaction of such banks allows providing more patients cellular material necessary for transplantation.

Surgical work in our Center is focused on organ-preserving and function-sparing surgery. This is especially important for patients with bone tumors. So for 10 years in our center there was no limb amputation in the first line of treatment.

Center for Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology actively cooperates with leading specialist centers of the former Soviet Union, and with the centers vow foreign countries.  This interaction is multidirectional and constantly expands. Specialists of the Centre have rich experience and knowledge. They participate regularly in international seminars and conferences; report the results of their research, and participation in international cooperative research groups.

In our practice we use international standards for medical care that implicate systematization and strict control of medical procedures. The Center used the most modern combined treatment program adopted in leading hospitals around the world and approved by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus.

All our experience, technical capabilities, as well as a deep understanding of the situation in each individual case, we direct to achieve the one goal: to help a sick child to be healthy and adapt to living without the disease. Each “our” cured patient — this is our happiness.

Details of the institution: 223053 Minsk region and district, Borovljansky village council, village Borovliany str. Frunze 43. SI “The Republican Scientific and Practical Center of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology.”

E-mail: mail@oncology.by

Phone: 265-42-22.

Web-site: oncology.by