How your African American ancestry can save a life
NMDP celebrates Black History Month
Our roots. Our reach. Our reason.
We proudly honor Black voices and visionaries who’ve nourished our nation and world through their innovations, labor, sacrifice and love. Our roots run deep in the commitment to ensuring everyone can find a donor, and our global reach enables this, connecting donors and patients in life-saving ways. Our reason is you!
Throughout Black History Month, NMDPSM remains committed to recognizing and amplifying the contributions of Black individuals ensuring that their stories and legacies are not only remembered but also celebrated.
NMDP Black Blood Heals podcast
Tune into our podcast during Black History Month for exclusive interviews that highlight the stories of Black patients, blood stem cell donors and supporters. Discover how Black blood saves lives and take action for patients battling blood cancer, sickle cell disease and other life-threatening diseases.
We have the power to heal black lives.
Why donors like you are needed
A blood stem cell donation can cure or treat more than 75 diseases, including leukemia or sickle cell disease. However, 70% of patients don’t have a fully matched donor in their family and rely on the NMDP Registry to find an unrelated one. To determine the best match for their patients, doctors look at genes called human leukocyte antigens (HLA), which are inherited from your biological parents.
Because of that genetic component, the best match for a patient is typically someone who shares their ethnic background. The problem: The registry isn’t diverse enough to ensure every patient can find their match. We need more people of all backgrounds to join the registry to help more patients find their cure. However, registry recruitment alone won’t solve the problem. Science will.
Stories of courage and resilience
Finding a Match Against the Odds
Donna and Tiana made history and moved us one step closer to a world where blood cancer is a thing of the past.The importance of saying “yes” to donate blood stem cells
Jeremiah's childhood dream of being a hero took a real-life turn when he faced the decision to donate blood stem cells.Join Kyle's team—be a game-changer
One moment, Kyle was a star college athlete and the next, he was facing his toughest battle yet—an ALL diagnosis.
New initiative: NMDP Donor for All
At NMDP, we’re redefining the future of blood stem cell transplant through our Donor for All initiative to increase the odds all patients will find their best match. In the past, patients needed a fully matched donor for the best outcome. But as our population becomes more diverse, we know not every patient will have a full donor match even if every eligible donor joins the registry.
Through Donor for All, we’re working to safely unlock access to a blood stem cell transplant through many research efforts using partially matched donors. This will significantly expand all patients’ options for suitable donors—while providing outcomes in line with using a fully matched donor. Clinical trials through Donor for All and our collaborative research program CIBMTR® (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research®) are already changing what’s possible for patients who need a life-saving cure, like Amelia.
How does a bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplant treat sickle cell disease?
Of the inherited blood disorders that blood stem cell transplants treat, sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common. It affects over 100,000 people in the U.S. alone and is particularly prevalent for those of African, Mediterranean, South American, Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern descent.
If someone has SCD, their body makes unhealthy red blood cells, ones that are misshapen, hard and sticky. They get stuck in blood vessels and clog them. This can cause pain, infection, organ damage, low blood count, strokes and other serious health problems.
A blood stem cell transplant can cure SCD. It replaces a patient’s unhealthy blood-forming cells with healthy cells from a donor. It’s not surgery; it’s more like a blood transfusion. It can’t fix organ damage from sickle cell disease, but it can stop more damage from happening. The goal is to help patients live free from sickle cell pain, prevent any new complications and improve their overall quality of life.
Sickle cell disease is just one example of the over 75 different blood cancers or disorders that a blood stem cell transplant can cure or treat.
:30 with Nur-D: Answering your questions
Whether you’re thinking about signing up to be a blood stem cell donor or are already on the NMDP Registry, chances are you have questions. Erica Jensen, an NMDP senior vice president, and hip-hop artist Nur-D have teamed up to answer the most popular ones—in 30 seconds or less.
What am I donating—and what happens next?
You are donating healthy blood stem cells, which are then transported directly to the patient in need.
Does it cost anything to donate blood stem cells?
To put it simply—no. Donating is free and NMDP can even provide financial assistance with expenses related to your donation such as plane tickets, hotel costs, food during your trip and pet care while you're away.
Can I choose who I donate my bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells to?
Doctors select matches for their patients based on tissue type, so while it is more likely that you will be a match for a close relative or someone of the same ethnicity, the decision on who your donation will be given to is ultimately left to the health care professionals.
As a blood stem cell donor, how will I be treated?
We understand that there is both historic and present day mistrust in the health care system, particularly in ethnically diverse communities. We assure you that NMDP does everything we can to ensure donors are healthy, comfortable and well cared for during the entire donation process.