The National Marrow Donor Program's (NMDP) mission is to establish a system which provides transplants of stem cells from unrelated donors for patients with leukemia and other life-threatening blood diseases. There is only a 30% chance of finding a match within the patient's family. Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) are inherited, much like skin, eyes, and hair color, and a match is most likely within the patients' own ethnic group. Each year thousands of racial minorities die from leukemia and other blood diseases because of the low number of minority donor volunteers registered with the NMDP.

The Marrow Program of Central and South Texas added 13,986 new marrow donors onto the National Registry in 2007, bringing the local database total to over 130,000 donors.  Also, 70 marrow and stem cell donors gave on behalf of patients all over the world!   

Registration drives are carried out on a regular basis and frequently special events are held to promote awareness of the need for more potential donors to join the registry.

Volunteer Aizha Pabon helps people sign up for the marrow registry at a promotional blood and marrow registration drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are stem cells ?

A: Stem cells, the cells transplant patients need to make healthy new marrow, are the immature cells that can develop into any of the cells present in the blood stream: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Q: What is marrow?

A: Marrow is found in the cavities of the body's bones. It resembles blood and contains stem cells, which produce red cells, white cells and other blood components.

Q: What are PBSC (Peripheral Blood Stem Cells)?

A: Stem cells, the cells that transplant patients need to make new healthy marrow, usually live in bone marrow, but are also released in small numbers into the circulating (peripheral) blood.

Who can donate stem cells

Q: Who can become a stem cell donor?

A: A person of any race, ethnicity or gender who is 18 to 60 years old and in general good health can become a volunteer stem cell donor.

Q: How does someone become a stem cell donor?

A: The first step in becoming a donor is to register. This involves filling out a few forms with pertinent health information. Then a small sample of cells are collected through a simple cheek swab. Your particular tissue type (called HLA) is then entered into theNMDP Registry by the local donor center which maintains all donor information. Only your tissue typing information is submitted to the NMDP where it is cross-checked against the tissue type of patients needing a transplant.

Q. Who Can Help?

To join the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), you must be between 18 and 60 years old and be in good general health.

South Texas Blood & Tissue Center is an authorized donor center of the National Marrow Donor Program®

For more information on our marrow program, please e-mail Yvonne Ybarra, or call (210) 731-5513.