At Mayo Clinic's Autoimmune Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program, specialists offer cutting-edge treatments to help people living with serious autoimmune conditions.
Traditionally, hospitals have used bone marrow transplant to treat blood cancers, serious non-malignant blood disorders and similar conditions. Mayo Clinic experts are pioneering methods to apply bone marrow transplant, also called stem cell transplant, to treat a range of conditions that aren't cancer.
For some people with autoimmune conditions, this approach may essentially eliminate the faulty immune system and rebuild it with healthy stem cells from their own bone marrow. The goal is to create a new immune system that doesn't attack the body.
For those who haven't found lasting relief with standard therapies, the treatment offers a promising new option.
Autoimmune conditions we treat
Mayo Clinic in Florida offers evaluation for the conditions listed below. Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, offers evaluation for multiple sclerosis only. Your care team can help determine which location and referral process may be right for you.
Neurological conditions
Gastrointestinal conditions
- Crohn's disease.
- Autoimmune liver disease.
- Other gastrointestinal conditions.
Rheumatological conditions
Our approach
At Mayo Clinic, we care for people with complex conditions every day. With world-class experts across nearly every medical specialty, we can accurately diagnose challenging conditions and develop a personalized care plan, often within days.
Your care team in the Autoimmune Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program includes experts in your specific condition and in bone marrow transplants. The team collaborates to understand your health history, the precise nature of your condition and your treatment goals.
With a thorough understanding of your condition, your team partners with you and your family to tailor a care plan to your exact needs.
Depending on your needs, your care team may include:
- Disease-specific specialist, such as a neurologist, gastroenterologist or rheumatologist.
- Hematologist, an expert in stem cell transplant.
- Infectious disease specialist.
- Geneticist, who can precisely map the genetic makeup of your body and your condition.
- Transplant coordinator, who guides you through each step, so you know what to expect and feel supported.
- Nurses, who will help you recover and make sure you are comfortable.
- Social workers, who can connect you to support resources and help you understand insurance and finance options.
- Nutritionist to help you prepare for your transplant and to ensure you remain healthy after transplant.
- More, as your condition requires.
These specialists work closely together so that every part of your care is coordinated.
What type of bone marrow transplant might I receive?
For autoimmune conditions, we use a specific type of bone marrow transplant, called autologous bone marrow transplant. Autologous means the transplant uses your own blood stem cells. The process rebuilds the immune system after intensive treatment. It is also called autologous stem cell transplant.
In very selected cases, an allogeneic stem cell transplant may be considered. An allogenic procedure uses stem cells from someone else.
Learn more about the bone marrow transplant process, including preparation, risks and recovery.
Your care team guides you through each stage of the process, from evaluation through recovery. The team explains what to expect and supports you throughout your treatment process.
Who is eligible for an autoimmune bone marrow transplant?
To receive a bone marrow transplant, you generally need to be healthy enough for intensive treatment aside from the autoimmune condition being treated. If you have other serious medical conditions, a bone marrow transplant may not be safe or right for you.
If you have an active infection, it usually needs to be treated before a bone marrow transplant. Alcohol or drug use and smoking may affect whether a transplant is safe for you. Your care team can explain any requirements for stopping use before treatment.
To find out if a bone marrow transplant is good option for your specific condition, our team performs a detailed evaluation over several days. This often includes:
- Specialty consultation, such as neurology, gastroenterology, rheumatology or another specialty based on your diagnosis.
- Bone marrow transplant team consult.
- Medical tests.
- Health history review.
- Genetic testing.
Testing will likely include blood tests, bone marrow biopsy, bone marrow aspiration and an assessment of how well your organs are functioning.
If the evaluation finds that a transplant is not a good option for you, your team can connect you with experts in your condition to help you get the very latest care you require.
Throughout the process, your team focuses not only on treatment, but also on your comfort, safety and peace of mind.
How long will I need to be near Mayo Clinic?
A bone marrow transplant for an autoimmune condition may require a hospital stay of several weeks. Once you leave the hospital, you will need close follow-up with the transplant team. How often you need to come to the hospital is different for everyone and depends on your treatment plan.
Most people can return home within 2 to 3 weeks. Your Mayo Clinic care team will continue to coordinate your follow-up care.
Most people are not able to work during this time. Your transplant team includes financial counselors who can help you plan for treatment-related costs and time away from work. They also can help you understand disability insurance and explore whether paid leave may be available.
Your team also can help you understand the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which may allow up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave while eligible health benefits continue.
If you travel for treatment, your care team can share resources about extended-stay housing. The team can give you a list of lodging options near the transplant center, including lower-cost options that may be available. Some options that may be available include:
- The Gabriel House of Care in Jacksonville, Florida, which offers low-cost housing for transplant patients and their caregivers.
- The Gift of Life Transplant House in Rochester, Minnesota, which offers low-cost housing for adult and pediatric transplant patients and their caregivers.
Do I need a caregiver for a bone marrow transplant to treat an autoimmune disease?
Because your treatment greatly weakens your immune system, you need a caregiver during and after a bone marrow transplant. You may consider having more than one because someone must be with you 24 hours a day and accompany you to appointments. Most people need a caregiver for about 2 to 3 weeks after an autologous stem cell transplant.
Your caregiver needs to be a responsible adult who can follow the care team's instructions. A caregiver is usually a spouse or partner, parent, sibling, adult child or friend.
Your committed caregiver plays a big part in a successful transplant. Your caregiver can take you to daily appointments and help you with medicines, food preparation, household tasks and your daily routine.
Your Mayo Clinic bone marrow transplant care team can give your caregiver information on caring for you. This may include ways to lower infection risk and signs of infection to watch for, such as fever.
Why choose Mayo Clinic
The way Mayo Clinic delivers care is built on collaboration across specialties. This approach is essential for diagnose and treat complex immune conditions.
The Autoimmune Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program brings together specialists with deep expertise in autoimmune diseases, bone marrow transplantation and virtually every medical specialty.
These teams apply the latest knowledge and treatment approaches to deliver new options to people whose conditions aren't responding to standard treatments.
The Autoimmune Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program offers:
- Advanced transplant and cellular therapy options, including new therapies approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration when appropriate.
- Cutting-edge therapies through clinical trials, which includes applying CAR-T Cell therapy to treat autoimmune conditions.
- A dedicated coordinator team, which speeds up referrals, insurance approval and time to treatment.
- On-site blood collection and cell therapy lab.
- A close working relationship with referring doctors, which helps manage your care before and after treatment and during long-term follow-up.
- Timely care, with patients usually being seen within 1 to 2 weeks.
CAR-T cell therapy for autoimmune conditions in clinical trials
Mayo Clinic offers CAR-T cell therapy for some autoimmune conditions through ongoing clinical trials. Early study results suggest that the treatment may be effective and safe, but information about long-term effectiveness and safety is limited.
Whether you can take part depends on your diagnosis, the study requirements and whether a trial is enrolling.
During your evaluation, your care team can discuss clinical trials that may be an option for you.
Support and resources
A bone marrow transplant can feel overwhelming at times. Mayo Clinic can support you and your family through each stage of care. This may include education, counseling, financial guidance and social services.
We also provide support for your recovery, including help with nutrition, strength and daily activities. Our team answers your questions and helps you feel prepared and supported.
Request an appointment
If you have an autoimmune condition and are considering bone marrow transplant, you can request an evaluation online or by calling a location below.
Oct. 15, 2026