Dr. Jaap-Jan Boelens

Dr. Jaap-Jan Boelens, MD, PhD, is a pediatric hematologic oncologist and Chief of the Pediatric Transplant and Cellular Therapy Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK Kids). He specializes in bone marrow and cord blood transplantation for blood diseases in children and young adults, with particular expertise in rare conditions including lysosomal storage disorders such as Hurler's disease and leukodystrophies including metachromatic leukodystrophy, adrenoleukodystrophy, and Krabbe disease. Before joining Memorial Sloan Kettering in 2018, he spent a decade in the Netherlands developing an umbilical cord blood transplant program that has grown into the largest of its kind in Europe. Cord blood transplantation offers a vital treatment option for patients who lack a suitable bone marrow match, and Dr. Boelens continues to build on this foundation by exploring ways to combine transplantation with emerging cellular therapies.

His laboratory research focuses on developing advanced cord blood-based therapies that target blood disorders at the cellular level. His team is also creating mathematical models designed to predict how a young patient's immune system will respond to treatment, bridging the gap between laboratory discovery and bedside application. As part of a dedicated multidisciplinary team at MSK Kids, Dr. Boelens works to develop new treatments that better control disease while preserving and improving quality of life for young patients and their families. His goal is to translate scientific advances directly into clinical practice to help children with blood disorders live longer, healthier lives.

Dr. Boelens approaches patient care with openness, honesty, and deep respect for the challenges families face after a life-changing diagnosis. He recognizes that patients and their families often carry significant uncertainty about treatment, possible complications, and the road ahead, and he prioritizes giving them the time and space to ask questions and process information fully. His commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care is central to his practice, ensuring that every family feels heard, respected, and supported throughout their treatment journey.