Planning is well underway for a new $17-million, 20,000-square-foot, 15-bed space for stem cell transplant patients at the Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre.

“It’s a big deal,” said hematologist Dr. Kylie Lepic, who is also the JHCC spokesperson for the Tomorrow Stems From You campaign that began in October.

Work to turn the last remaining empty space at the Concession Street hospital into a recovery area for stem cell patients is expected to begin this winter and take a year to complete.

The JHCC is one of only three hospitals in Ontario that provides all forms of adult stem cell transplants. Once the new area is up and running, it is expected the number of stem cell procedures performed each year will jump from 170 to 261.