Thalassemia Program

Who we are

Thalassemia is an inherited disorder that affects a person’s ability to produce normal hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in the blood and throughout the body. Today, research advances and careful medical management have minimized many of the life-threatening complications of untreated thalassemia.

If your child has thalassemia, specialists from the Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Center Thalassemia Program are available to help you through every step of your child’s care.

Our expertise

Here at our Thalassemia Program, we provide comprehensive care for children and adults with all forms of thalassemia.

• Our team is led by doctors who are experts in hematology, transfusion medicine and genetics.
• Because thalassemia is a complex disease, our team also includes specialists in cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, audiology, ophthalmology, infectious disease and genetic counseling. Each of our team members understands the unique problems caused by thalassemia.
• We offer unrivaled expertise in thalassemia evaluation and treatment, including iron chelation therapy and MRI iron assessment, as well as access to the latest clinical trials.
• Our program offers a full-time thalassemia nurse practitioner, who will work with you to identify your and your child’s needs, as well as to coordinate your child’s care.