Who discovered the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation technique?
The discoverer of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is American physician E. Donnall Thomas. The details are as follows:
E. Donnall Thomas began his research on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the 1950s. Initially, he conducted experiments using mouse models, demonstrating through bone marrow transplants between different strains of mice that such transplants could treat radiation injury and other blood disorders. He also discovered that donor and recipient tissue compatibility must be matched during bone marrow transplantation; otherwise, severe complications such as graft-versus-host disease could occur. With continuous improvements and refinements in the technique, Thomas began applying hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to human patients in the 1960s. He achieved the first successful use of bone marrow transplantation to treat a patient with leukemia, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1990. The discovery and application of this technique have provided new hope and possibilities for treating various blood disorders and malignant tumors.
Today, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has become one of the key approaches for treating blood disorders and malignant tumors. With ongoing advancements and refinements in the technology, its clinical effectiveness continues to improve, offering patients renewed hope for life and enhanced quality of life.