Ramaiah Memorial Hospital & Ramaiah Medical College to host global WBMT symposium on cell therapy in Bengaluru

New Delhi: Ramaiah Memorial Hospital & Ramaiah Medical College is the epicenter of medical innovation with the inauguration of theWorldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (WBMT) Symposium on Cell Therapy – Bengaluru 2025 (a global NGO in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO), a landmark global scientific convention focused on the future of cellular therapy. (BMT & CART)

The event, co-organized by the Ramaiah Bone Marrow Transplant and Cell Therapy Program—established in 2014 was inaugurated by Mr. K.B. Sivakumar, IAS, Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare Services, Government of Karnataka; Dr. Nagendra Swamy S.C., Chief Executive – Ramaiah Memorial Hospital & Healthcare Services – Gokula Educational Foundation (Medical) and Dr. Damiano Rondelli (Chicago, USA), President of the WBMT. The symposium convenes eminent clinicians, scientists, researchers, and global experts from the USA, Europe, UK, Japan, Brazil, Australia, and India to advance dialogue, innovation, and collaboration in CAR-T therapies, hematopoietic cell transplantation, and cutting-edge cellular therapies.

The symposium marks a significant milestone for Indian healthcare, focusing on the next frontier of treatment: bone marrow transplants and advanced cell therapies such as CAR-T cells and gene therapy for blood cancers and congenital blood disorders.

WBMT President, Professor Damiano Rondelli commented – “This symposium is extremely important to the mission of WBMT to promote international collaboration, education, and increase capacity building in transplantation and cell therapy worldwide. Gathering speakers from this region of the world will impact access and quality of care for many patients in Asia”.

Delivering the inaugural address, Dr. Nagendra Swamy S.C., Chief Executive – Ramaiah Memorial Hospital & Healthcare Services, Gokula Education Foundation (Medical), highlighted the institution’s commitment to elevating access to advanced cell therapy and strengthening India’s position in global healthcare innovation. He said, “The symposium has come at a very crucial juncture when the science of cell therapy is moving faster so that systems, policies, and training frameworks can catch up to implement global standards. Our priority will be to bridge that gap by creating platforms where science, technology, professional care, and patient needs can align. Bengaluru has talent, an ecosystem, and the collaborative spirit to make a meaningful contribution to global advancements in cell therapy.”

Representing the global fraternity, the symposium features distinguished WBMT leaders including Damiano Rondelli, President – WBMT; Mickey Koh, Vice President – WBMT; and Mahmoud Aljurf, Past President – WBMT, among other international faculty and senior scientific experts.

Dr. Santhosh K. Devadas, HOD & Consultant – Medical Oncology & Chief – BMT at Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, added, “In the last few years, What really excites me, is moving from BMT to how new science—especially cellular and gene-modified therapies—is starting to complement more traditional transplant protocols.Hosting the WBMT symposium is a testament to the standing of the Ramaiah Institute of Oncology. Cell therapy with genetically engineered blood cells represents the future of cancer therapy and the cure for genetically inherited diseases such as thalassemia. The conversations at this forum will help us refine pathways and expand the window of opportunity for patients.”