First-of-its-Kind Immunotherapy Unit Set to Open This Fall

Construction is nearly complete on the 12-bed Cellular and Immune Therapies Unit at Cincinnati Children’s. Set to open in November, this first-of-its-kind unit will concentrate care in one place for cancer patients who are receiving cellular and immune therapies. Its unique hybrid care model brings together experts in oncology, bone marrow transplant (a form of cellular therapy) and immunotherapy (strategies that activate the immune system to fight cancer). The Cellular and Immune Therapies Unit will be co-located with the 36-bed Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.

The state-of-the-art unit will be on the fifth floor of the new Critical Care Building at Cincinnati Children’s. Once complete this fall, the building will add 632,500 square feet and 249 beds to the medical center’s main campus.

Seven Years of Experience

“The Cellular and Immune Therapies Unit is built on our team’s extensive experience in providing chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for children and young adults with relapsed or high-risk cancers,” says John Perentesis, MD, FAAP, director of the Division of Oncology. “Our physicians, nurses and support staff have been providing CAR T since 2014 and have advanced expertise in preparing and administering these complex therapies, managing potential side effects and helping patients transition to outpatient care.”

Patients and families travel from across the country and worldwide to receive cellular and immune therapies at Cincinnati Children’s. The new unit will offer a more streamlined experience with all therapies available in one location. These therapies will include:

• Extensive immunotherapy cancer treatment options, including chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR T), immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted antibody therapies.
• Virus-specific therapy (VST), which targets five viruses that account for a significant percentage of morbidity and mortality after hematopoietic stem cell transplant and solid organ transplant. Since 2014, more than 100 hematopoietic stem cell patients have received at least one infusion of VST products at Cincinnati Children’s through a clinical research protocol. On average, about 80% experienced a clinical benefit from the therapy.
• Pheresis, dialysis and other advanced cellular support technology in each room.
• Accommodations for extended hospital stays, which are sometimes needed for patients who undergo immunotherapy and later need a bone marrow transplant.

Additional Features

The unit incorporates advanced technologies for monitoring and early interventions for possible side effects. A high-efficiency air filtration system will achieve air purification levels beyond what exists in an operating room. Virtual reality software is helping staff acclimate to the new space, safety features, equipment and workflows in three dimensions.

Patient rooms will be about one-third larger than they are now and families will have more space to relax and consult privately with the care team. Families also will be able to access amenities throughout the Critical Care Building, such as an exercise facility, business center and outdoor terrace.

Learn more about the Critical Care Building.