The world’s first mobile leukapheresis center expands access to lifesaving therapies through the collection of immune cells for cell and gene therapies.
The mobile leukapheresis center is a highly specialized type of bloodmobile that safely and comfortably allows the collection of immune cells. These cells are used in advanced treatments for cancer, autoimmune conditions, genetic disorders and other serious illnesses.
Some patients live hundreds of miles from the nearest leukapheresis center. This mobile leukapheresis center brings cell collection closer to home.
Cell therapies (also known as “Advanced Therapies”) are treatments that use immune cells to treat diseases. These therapies have been studied for more than 25 years in clinical trials and are now starting to become more widely available.
Cell therapies are being used to treat:
If you’re preparing for a cell therapy, your care team may include immune cell collection as part of your treatment plan. We help with that step—so you don’t have to travel far to get started.
You’ll sit comfortably in a reclining chair while your blood is drawn, and separated to collect immune cells, while the remainder returned to you. It’s nonsurgical and similar to donating plasma or platelets.
The process usually takes about 3–4 hours. You’ll be able to relax, read, or watch a movie during your visit. We even have a bathroom onboard, so if you need to use the restroom, we’ve got you covered!
Yes. Our mobile center is equipped to accommodate individuals with mobility needs. We have a wheelchair-accessible lift and our team is trained to assist patients and donors in boarding safely and comfortably. If you have specific needs, we’re happy to discuss them in advance to make sure you feel fully supported during your visit.
They’re sent to a specialized processing lab where they are trained or enhanced to better fight your illness. Once ready, they’re returned to your care team and given back to you—like a customized transfusion.
Yes. The process is safe, well-established, and monitored by our experienced staff. Your body will regenerate the immune cells naturally.
Leukapheresis (immune cell collection) is sometimes performed in hospitals —it’s the first step in making the therapy itself. Then the collected immune cells are sent to a lab, where they’re turned into a personalized therapy that will be given back to the patient later.
Historically, this type of collection has only been available at large academic medical centers or research hospitals, which can be very far from where many patients live. At BBG Advanced Therapies, we’ve been performing the process of leukapheresis for our community for more than 15 years. Our mobile leukapheresis center brings that same trusted service to more communities, so more patients can start their treatment journey closer to home.
BioBridge Global is a nonprofit organization that’s been serving patients in South Texas for more than 50 years. Our mission is to save and enhance lives through the healing power of human cells and tissue.
We collect immune cells (PBMCs, PBSCs, Granulocytes, & Dendritic cells) for patients preparing for cell and gene therapies, both commercially available and in clinical trials. Our mobile center brings this capability to your patients, reducing the need for distant referrals. We can also provide these services for healthy donor allogeneic cell and gene therapies.
We support the clinical trial sponsor or prescribing care team by performing the cell collection procedure. We’ve done this for more than 15 years and will coordinate closely with your team.
We serve San Antonio and surrounding regions across South Texas, including Laredo, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), Eagle Pass, Del Rio and Victoria. We can coordinate location and timing to fit patient needs.
Contact our coordination team at MLC@bbgat.org, and we’ll walk through your goals and how we can help.
Yes, we can support both autologous and allogeneic FDA-approved cell therapies. The team is experienced in integrating with sponsor-specific workflows and regulatory requirements, and operates under FACT-accredited apheresis protocols. We also adhere to GMP and GLP standards to ensure quality and compliance.
Yes. Our mobile leukapheresis center was specifically designed to support decentralized and hybrid clinical trials. Our whole team is CITI-trained, trained in Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and we follow sponsor-specific SOPs and documentation standards. We support early-phase through post-marketing studies.
Yes. our footprint in South Texas, coupled with longstanding relationships across the region, enables us to connect with Hispanic, rural, and underserved communities. We are committed to expanding access to cell therapy and research opportunities, and our bilingual staff is trained in culturally competent engagement.
Yes. Our whole team is CITI-trained and experienced in Human Subjects’ Research regulatory requirements. We conduct healthy donor recruitment and screenings for IRB-approved research and clinical activities. Our organization has over two decades of experience supporting cell sourcing for investigational and commercial products, and the we can work directly with sponsor teams to meet protocol requirements. Contact MLC@bbgat.org for more information.
We provide robust support to ensure chain-of-custody and compliance:
We offer a full range of process development, cell isolation, and characterization services through our integrated infrastructure. While the mobile center focuses on cell collection, we provide processing services at our fixed-site facilities, supporting both fresh and cryopreserved workflows. We also offer assay development, stability testing, and product release testing in partnership with our in-house Quality and Testing teams.
Yes. BBG Advanced Therapies offers GMP-compliant manufacturing for both autologous and allogeneic cell therapies. Our capabilities support centralized, decentralized, and distributed manufacturing models, depending on the needs of your program.
We provide flexible cleanroom infrastructure, process development expertise, and integrated support services—including apheresis, testing, cryopreservation, and logistics coordination. Our model is designed to enable small-batch, patient-specific manufacturing while ensuring quality, compliance, and scalability for both early-phase clinical trials and commercial programs.
We’d love to connect. Reach out at MLC@bbgat.org and we’ll explore how the mobile leukapheresis center can support your organization.
Immune cells are the white blood cells that allow the body to fight disease.
Watch this short, animated video to learn more about the bus and immune cells.
Cell therapies (also called “Advanced Therapies”) are treatments that use a patient’s body’s own cells—or donated cells—to treat diseases. It’s not brand new; these therapies have been studied for over 25 years in clinical trials and are now starting to become more widely available. But access for all patients is still limited, and we’re here to help change that.
Cell therapies are being used to treat:
Cell therapies (also called “Advanced Therapies”) are treatments that use a patient’s body’s own cells—or donated cells—to treat diseases. It’s not brand new; these therapies have been studied for over 25 years in clinical trials and are now starting to become more widely available. But access for all patients is still limited, and we’re here to help change that.
Cell therapies are being used to treat:
