Hematology and Oncology

Our pediatric hematology and oncology division diagnoses and treats a wide range of conditions, providing each child with the specialized care they need. This includes:

• Blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma
• Solid tumors, such as:
• Brain tumors (growths of abnormal cells in the brain)
• Neuroblastoma (a cancer that often starts in the nerve cells of young children)
• Germ cell tumors (tumors that develop from the cells that normally form eggs or sperm)
• Sarcomas (cancers that affect bones, muscles, or other connective tissues)
• Inherited blood conditions, such as beta-thalassemia and sickle cell disease, which affect how red blood cells carry oxygen and may cause anemia and fatigue.
• Hemophilia and bleeding disorders
• Thrombophilia disorders (conditions that make the blood more likely to form clots than normal, which can increase the risk of problems like deep vein thrombosis or stroke).
• Immune deficiencies, metabolic disorders and congenital diseases that may be treated or cured by Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT).
• Palliative care and symptoms management, ensuring comfort and quality of life for children with serious illnesses.

Our physicians work closely with other specialties, such as Radiology, Pathology, Surgery, Neurosurgery, Infectious Diseases, etc. to make sure every child receives comprehensive, individualized care.

For the most complex cases, we also connect with a global network of international experts, giving your child access to the very best knowledge and treatments from around the world.

Why Choose Sidra Medicine?

• Specialist doctors who focus only on children with cancers and blood disorders
• Team-based care that brings together experts from many fields to design a plan tailored to your child’s medical, emotional, and social needs. World-class diagnostic and treatment facilities equipped with the latest technology.
• A child-friendly environment designed to reduce anxiety, foster comfort, and promote healing.
• Whole family support services including pain management, counseling, and psychosocial care.
• Global collaboration with leading international centers of excellence, ensuring your child benefits from the most up-to-date, evidence-based care.
• Access to an active Clinical Trials and Research Program, opening doors to the latest innovations in care.

Comprehensive Support for Families

We provide compassionate, child-centered care that supports both physical and emotional well-being. From the very first day, our team of allied health professionals-including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and dietitians, works alongside doctors and nurses to manage complications, promote recovery, and improve your child’s quality of life.

Because mental and emotional health are just as important, our child life specialists, social workers, and psychosocial support teams offer ongoing emotional and psychological support. Together, we ensure every child feels safe, heard, and empowered throughout their care journey- every family feels supported at every step.

Innovative Programs & Advanced Therapies

At Sidra Medicine, we bring the latest medical breakthroughs to Qatar so children and families can access world-class treatments close to home.

Qatar’s First Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) Program

We are proud to have established Qatar’s first-ever Pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) program, housed in a brand new, state-of-the-art 10-bed unit. The ward was opened to address the growing demand for pediatric transplant services, eliminate the need for families to travel abroad, and enhance our national capability in advanced cellular therapy.

HSCT (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation), also known as bone marrow transplant, replaces diseased or damaged bone marrow with healthy stem cells from the patient (autologous) or a donor (allogeneic).

It is currently the only curative treatment for many congenital and acquired otherwise fatal pediatric diseases. The procedure is at the forefront of personalized medicine and plays a vital role in the development of advanced cell and gene therapies.

The HSCT program provides lifesaving curative therapies for:

• Cancer, such as leukemia, lymphoma, solid tumors
• Hematological diseases like sickle cell disease andthalassemia
• Primary immune deficiencies, metabolic disorders, and certain genetic and autoimmune disorders.

A typical patient journey undergoing allogeneic HSCT:

Patients undergo a detailed evaluation in the outpatient clinic, followed by admission for conditioning chemotherapy. After stem cell infusion, they are closely monitored during the aplasia phase, typically staying for 30 to 40 days. Post-discharge care continues through outpatient follow-ups.

• Pre-transplant evaluation (outpatient) for patient and donor
• Admission for conditioning chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy
• Donor’s stem cell harvest
• Stem cell infusion to the patient
• Inpatient monitoring for 30–40 days
• Outpatient monitoring for approximately 1 year
• Followed by long-term outpatient care.

The unit is designed with advanced safety and infection-control measures, ensuring the highest standards of care for every child. The HSCT program is supported by a highly specialized multidisciplinary team, including pediatric hematology-oncology consultants, apheresis-trained staff, dedicated BMT nurses, and a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-qualified laboratory team under the Advanced Cell Therapy Core.

Curative Gene Therapy for Thalassemia & Sickle Cell Disease

Sidra Medicine is one of the very few hospitals in the world certified to deliver Casgevy, a groundbreaking, one-time gene therapy for children. This therapy uses CRISPR gene-editing technology to “reprogram” a patient’s blood cells, helping them produce healthy red blood cells.

It offers hope for patients 12 years and older with:

• Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) who suffer from repeated painful crises.
• Transfusion‑Dependent Beta Thalassemia (TDT) who require regular blood transfusions.

Sidra Medicine is proud to be the only hospital in Qatar, and one of very few centers worldwide, certified by Vertex Pharmaceuticals to provide this specialized gene therapy.

What the treatment involves:

1. Stem cell collection – Your child’s stem cells are collected over 2 or more days using a safe procedure called apheresis.
2. Gene editing – The cells are sent to expert laboratories in Europe (Scotland or the Netherlands), where they are carefully edited, tested, and prepared. This step can take 4–6 months.
3. Return to Sidra Medicine – The edited cells are shipped back to Sidra Medicine and preserved safely until treatment.
4. Preparation – Before receiving the edited cells, your child will be admitted for chemotherapy to prepare their body.
5. Infusion & recovery – The new gene-edited cells are infused back into your child. They begin to grow in the bone marrow and start producing healthy red blood cells.
6. Long-term care – Our team provides ongoing monitoring and follow-up to ensure the best outcome for your child’s health.

For more information, please call Sidra Medicine +974 4000 3333

Research and Innovation

At Sidra Medicine, our research directly shapes the care your child receives. Through our Translational Research Program, we bridge the gap between scientific discoveries and bedside treatments, ensuring that children in Qatar have access to the very latest in cancer care.

Precision Medicine: Treatments Designed for Your Child

We use advanced tools to understand the unique genetic and molecular “fingerprint” of each child’s cancer. This process is called molecular profiling, help us:

• Achieve the most accurate diagnosis possible.
• Assess the risks and likely progression of cancer.
• Guide doctors in selecting the more effective, targeted therapies.

For children with aggressive or relapsed cancers, our Expedited Genomic Oncology Profiling (eGOP) provides results in just 2–3 weeks, fast enough to guide urgent treatment decisions.

Building a National Resource
We are developing Qatar’s first Pediatric Cancer Biorepository and Registry, collecting valuable clinical data and biological samples. These resources help us personalize care for children here in Qatar and also contribute to global progress in pediatric cancer treatment.

Global Collaborations
Sidra Medicine is proud to partner with leading international networks such as the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) and the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP). These collaborations ensure that our young patients benefit from worldwide expertise and access to innovative treatments.

Our Focus Areas

• Personalized Pharmacogenomics (PGx): Studying how a child’s genetic makeup affects their response to medicines. This allows us to tailor drug doses, reduce side effects, and improve long-term outcomes. We are currently running a pilot study in this area for cancer patients.
• Advanced Cell Therapy: Our dedicated Advanced Cell Therapy Core is developing CAR-T therapies, a groundbreaking “living drug” for children with cancers that return or resist standard treatments. With our new Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility, we aim to make these therapies available to patients across the Gulf region.

Active Clinical Trials

Sidra Medicine also runs clinical trials, offering eligible children access to new therapies not yet widely available. Current example: Firefly Trial for patients with low-grade gliomas. Join Clinical Trials at Sidra Medicine | Pediatric & Women’s Health Research

To learn more about our groundbreaking research and how we are shaping the future of pediatric cancer care, please visit our [Research & Innovation pages] (link).

Comprehensive Support for Families

We know that a serious diagnosis affects not only the child but the entire family. That’s why our team is here to support you every step of the way.

• We communicate openly and compassionately with both children and caregivers, helping you understand what to expect and how to cope at each stage of treatment.
• We work closely with children to make sure they feel safe, listened to, and empowered throughout their care journey.
• Our child life specialists, psychologists, and social workers provide emotional support, guidance, and coping strategies for families.

At Sidra Medicine, we care for the whole family – not just the illness – so you never feel alone on this journey.