BALCO Medical Centre Advances Next-Generation Cancer Care with CAR-T Cell Apheresis Workshop
Raipur, Chhattisgarh | 13th Sept 2025: BALCO Medical Centre (BMC), a leader in cancer care in central India, hosted an advanced one of its kind workshops on CAR-T Cell and Therapeutic Apheresis ahead of the 3rd Annual BMC Chhattisgarh Cancer Conclave. The event brought together over 100 hematologists, transfusion medicine specialists, blood transfusion officers, technical experts, and postgraduate residents, setting a new benchmark in precision medicine and cell-based therapies in the region.
The workshop was led by Dr. Neelesh Jain, Senior Consultant and Head of Transfusion Medicine & Blood Centre, and Dr. Dibyendu De, Senior Consultant, Haematology, Haemato-oncology & BMT at BALCO Medical Centre, and was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Rajesh Deshpande, Senior Manager – Medical Affairs and Clinical Application, Fresenius Kabi MedTech (Asia Pacific and International Region). The hands-on demonstration enabled participants to deepen their understanding of CAR-T cell apheresis, therapeutic apheresis, hematopoietic stem cell collection, and cytapheresis procedures, strengthening both clinical knowledge and practical skills.
“BALCO Medical Centre is enabling the future of quality cancer care by introducing breakthrough therapies like CAR-T and by empowering the next generation of oncologists,” says Dr. Bhawna Sirohi, Medical Director of Vedanta Medical Research Foundation, while inaugurating the session. “These innovations bring new hope, helping us offer personalized and targeted care to patients battling the toughest cancers. Our vision is to establish BMC as a hub for advanced cell and gene therapies, transforming cancer care in India and strengthening the nation’s healthcare efforts.”
CAR-T therapy, a cutting-edge immunotherapy, involves extracting T-cells from the patient’s blood, genetically reprogramming them to recognize cancer cells, and reinfusing them to fight complex conditions such as relapsed/refractory cancers, autoimmune diseases, and hematologic disorders.
Speaking on the personalized treatment offered by CAR-T cell therapy, Dr. Neelesh Jain said “CAR T-cell therapy represents a paradigm shift in oncology, and apheresis is the cornerstone enabling it. By isolating immune cells for engineering, we are advancing highly targeted, personalized treatments for patients with otherwise limited options.” Dr. Dibyendu De, added “Hemato-oncology is advancing rapidly, and this workshop will enable knowledge sharing, learning from global leaders, and strengthening India’s progress in healthcare”
The workshop further explored patient selection, procedural protocols, and post-therapy monitoring through case-based discussions and interactive expert sessions. It reaffirmed BMC’s commitment to equipping medical professionals with the skills and infrastructure required to deliver transformative therapies.
The 3rd Annual BMC Chhattisgarh Cancer Conclave, scheduled from 19th to 21st September 2025 at Mayfair Lake Resorts, Naya Raipur, under the theme “Driving Common Sense Oncology” will also address Multi-disciplinary Management of Gastrointestinal, Genitourinary, and Lung Cancers. With over 10 international and 200 national faculty members, the conclave will feature first-of-its-kind workshops, including live surgical demonstrations, mini-ACORD research workshop, SBRT contouring training, and communication skills sessions for end-of-life care and discussion prognosis. It will also host a Women for Oncology (W4O India) network meeting and a cancer prevention workshop to strengthen community-level healthcare delivery. Registration is open at www.balcomedicalcentre.com
