-- March 23 2018

WASHINGTON – National Marrow Donor Program^® (NMDP)/Be The Match^®, which operates the nation’s Be The Match Registry^® of potential adult volunteer marrow donors and donated umbilical cord blood units, today commended Congress for its continued funding support for the Registry, by increasing funding by $2 million for the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program (Program) and $3 million for the National Cord Blood Inventory (NCBI).

“We are grateful for Congress’ unwavering commitment to NMDP/Be The Match Programs, which help save the lives of thousands of Americans with blood cancers every year,” said C. Randal Mills, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of NMDP/Be The Match. “The additional funding over 2017 levels for both programs will allow us to increase the number of patients we are able to serve, expand access to the life-saving registries we manage, and increase patients’ access to the cord blood and bone marrow donations patients need.”

The additional $2 million for the Program will allow us the opportunity to add tens of thousands of new donors to the Registry and the $3 million in additional funding for the NCBI will allow us the opportunity to add thousands of new cord blood units. The new donors and units on the Registry will lead to more saved lives. The Program will also help us to more effectively help patients who need marrow or cord blood transplants from unrelated donors. Specifically, the Program provides up-to-date information to patients and key stakeholders, provides an efficient process for identifying matches between unrelated donors and recipients, and collects and shares data to improve patient outcomes.

“We applaud Congress for its support and look forward to leveraging the increased funding to create an even larger impact for the vulnerable populations we serve,” Mills added.

Specifically, NMDP/Be The Match thanks Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Doris Matsui (D-CA), as well as Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Richard Burr (R-NC) for their leadership in securing this additional funding to support the growth of these programs for greater access to a potentially life-saving match for individuals with blood cancers and other blood disorders, as well as Senate Appropriations LHHS Chairman Roy Blunt (R-MO), Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), and House Appropriations LHHS Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).

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About National Marrow Donor Program^® (NMDP)/Be The Match^®
National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)/Be The Match is the global leader in providing a cure to patients with life-threatening blood and marrow cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma, as well as other diseases. The nonprofit organization manages the world’s largest registry of potential marrow donors and cord blood units, connects patients to their donor match for a life-saving marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant, educates health care professionals and conducts research through its research program, CIBMTR^® (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research^®), so more lives can be saved. NMDP/Be The Match also provides patient support and enlists the community to join the Be The Match Registry^®, contribute financially and volunteer.

To learn more about the cure, visit BeTheMatch.org or call 1 (800) MARROW-2.