Dr. Gaurav Kharya – Leading Pediatric BMT & Hemato-Oncologist

1. Major Conditions Treated:
   • Benign and malignant pediatric blood disorders
   • Pediatric solid tumors (e.g., lymphomas, neuroblastomas, renal tumors)
   • Pediatric immune deficiencies and metabolic disorders
2. Sub-specialties:
   • Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT)
   • Pediatric Hemato-Oncology
   • Pediatric Immunology
3. Advanced Procedures Performed:
   • Over 1,000 bone marrow transplants, including more than 170 for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) patients
   • Haploidentical BMT for patients without a full donor match
   • In-vitro TCR alpha-beta CD19 depletion in haploidentical BMT

• Recognized for performing the largest number of transplants for Sickle Cell Disease in India
• Developed innovative protocols for various transplants

• Published Papers:
  • Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, Nitin Gupta, Dharma Choudhary, Vipin Khandelwal, Mayank Dhamija, Gaurav Kharya, Anil Handoo, Arpita Arora, and Rasika Setia: “Cost of Hematopoietic BMT in India.” Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis 2014, 6(1): e2014046, DOI: 10.4084/MJHID.2014.046
• Book Chapters:
  • Dhiren Gupta and Gaurav Kharya: “Arterial blood gas vs venous blood gas: which one and when?” in Pediatric Emergency Medicine edited by Suresh Gupta, published by Indian Journal of Pediatrics
• Conference Abstracts:
  • A. Prakash, G. Kharya, A. Sachdeva, D. K. Kahlon, M. Kalra, N. Radhakrishnan, V. Dinand, S. P. Yadav: “Is it possible to treat pediatric acute myeloid leukemia in a developing country?” ISH 2010 Jerusalem

• Language Support: English, Hindi
• Visa & Travel Assistance: Available via Cancer rounds team
• Virtual Consultations: Available upon request for second opinions and pre-treatment planning

1. Current & Past Hospital Affiliations:
   • Senior Consultant, Pediatric Hematology & Clinical Lead, Centre for BMT – Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi
   • Head, Pediatric Hematology Oncology Immunology & Bone Marrow Transplant – Artemis Hospitals
   • Consultant, Pediatric Hemato-Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplant – BLK Super Speciality Hospital
   • Fellow, Pediatric Hematology & BMT – St. Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College NHS Trust, London, UK
   • Fellow, Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Immunology & BMT – The Great North Children’s Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
2. Academic & Research Roles:
   • Clinical Lead, Centre for Bone Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy
   • Running fellowship programs in Bone Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy with emphasis on academic and research

• Key Achievements & Contributions:
  • Performed the first haploidentical BMT for Sickle Cell Disease in India
  • Successfully conducted in-vitro TCR alpha-beta CD19 depletion in a 4-month-old baby with severe combined immunodeficiency

• “Dr. Kharya’s expertise in pediatric bone marrow transplantation gave our child a new lease on life.” – Mr Sarkar

• “We are grateful for Dr. Kharya’s compassionate care and dedication throughout our child’s treatment.” – Ms Anita

• “His innovative approach to BMT has been a game-changer for many children suffering from blood disorders.” – Dr Vichitra

• “Dr. Kharya’s commitment to his patients is evident in the successful outcomes we have witnessed.” – Dr Awadh

Outreach, Humanitarian, and Social Impact Work

• Sickle Cell Disease Awareness and Outreach:
  • Dr. Kharya has been at the forefront of awareness campaigns for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), especially in tribal and under-resourced regions of India where the disease burden is high.
  • He has collaborated with public health bodies to screen and counsel families in high-risk communities, helping them understand the curative potential of Bone Marrow Transplantation.
• Training and Capacity Building:
  • Conducts workshops and training programs for doctors and nurses across India to build expertise in pediatric hematology and BMT.
  • He actively mentors young pediatricians and oncologists in the evolving field of cellular therapy and immunotherapy.
• Charity Transplants and Support Initiatives:
  • Through partnerships with NGOs and philanthropic bodies, Dr. Kharya has facilitated subsidized or free BMTs for economically challenged children.
  • Advocates for universal donor registries and government-aided support schemes for rare blood disorders.

Media Presence & Public Education

• Media Features:
  • Featured in leading national dailies like The Times of India, Hindustan Times, and The Hindu for his pioneering work in haploidentical BMT and immune deficiency treatment in children.
  • Interviews on NDTV, CNN-News18, and Doordarshan discussing advancements in pediatric hematology.
• Public Awareness Videos & Webinars:
  • Regularly participates in public webinars, health talks, and YouTube sessions to educate parents about early detection of blood cancers and immune disorders in children.
  • Hosts Q&A sessions during international awareness days like World Sickle Cell Day, Childhood Cancer Day, and World Marrow Donor Day.
• Social Media Engagement:
  • Active on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter/X, where he shares research updates, success stories, and myth-busting posts related to bone marrow donation and pediatric cancer care.

Vision & Future Goals

• Establishing a World-Class Pediatric Cell Therapy Institute:
  • Dr. Gaurav Kharya envisions building a center of excellence dedicated solely to pediatric cellular therapies, gene editing, and regenerative medicine within India.
• Global Collaboration:
  • Plans to expand partnerships with international BMT and immunotherapy networks, ensuring Indian patients benefit from cutting-edge protocols and clinical trials.
• National Registry & Policy Advocacy:
  • Advocating for a national sickle cell and thalassemia donor registry and policy support for newborn screening programs, enabling early intervention in hematological conditions.
• Patient-Centric Research:
  • Focus on outcomes-based research in pediatric oncology and BMT, integrating real-world data, quality of life assessments, and long-term survivorship care models.

Research Grants and Trials

• Principal Investigator (PI) on multiple national and international clinical trials exploring novel conditioning regimens for haploidentical BMT, cellular immunotherapies, and gene-modified T cells in pediatric hematologic malignancies.
• Has received funding support from reputed organizations such as:
  • Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
  • Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India
  • European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)
• His research in chimerism analysis, GVHD prophylaxis, and T-cell depletion has contributed to evolving clinical protocols and improved patient outcomes.
• Frequently collaborates on multi-center trials involving next-generation sequencing (NGS) for early detection of immunodeficiencies.

Community Engagement and Health Policy Involvement

• Actively involved with NITI Aayog, National Health Mission, and state health departments to shape pediatric oncology policies in India.
• Consultant for Ayushman Bharat schemes to help facilitate inclusion of advanced cellular therapies under government-sponsored healthcare packages.
• Engaged in advocacy for rare disease legislation in India, with focus on making gene therapy and BMT accessible and affordable.
• Regular participant in community events, health camps, and educational outreach programs in both urban and rural India.

Personal Philosophy and Inspirational Journey

• Dr. Gaurav Kharya’s journey from a small-town medical graduate to a globally recognized pediatric BMT expert is rooted in dedication, compassion, and perseverance.
• Believes in a “child-first” approach — combining cutting-edge science with humanistic care to ensure every child, regardless of background, gets a chance at life.
• A mentor and motivator to the next generation of pediatric hematologists, he emphasizes evidence-based practice, empathy in medicine, and lifelong learning.
• Passionate about bridging the gap between high-end therapy and grassroots access, he continues to lead by example — healing with science, hope, and heart.