Other Ways to Help
Hoxworth Blood Center Volunteer Services
Click on the link above to learn more about volunteering at Hoxworth Blood Center.
Participate in Research
Donors who are deferred or are interested in other ways to utilize their donation, have the ability to participate in unique and cutting edge research programs at Hoxworth Blood Center.
The opportunities available help contribute to increased understanding of the mechanisms associated with red blood cell, white blood cell and platelet physiology or the use of these components in transfusion therapy. In addition, participants have the opportunity to be involved in the development of new techniques and methodologies that improve the collection and storage of blood and blood components.
To learn more about the exciting research opportunities at Hoxworth, click "Research", or contact Gayle Pratt at 513-558-1529.
Financial Gifts
Click on the link above to learn more about contributing financially to Hoxworth Blood Center.
Donate Bone Marrow - Overview
To join the bone marrow registry, please contact:
National Marrow Donor Program
Ohio and Indiana Area
2 Summit Park Drive
Suite 210
Cleveland, OH 44131
(216) 447-0880
(888) 862-7769
Join online: www.BeTheMatch.org
The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) is a congressionally authorized network of donor centers, transplant centers, collection centers and recruitment groups that maintains a confidential database of volunteer bone marrow / stem cell donors. This computerized registry was established to help facilitate matches for patients in need of a transplant with a network of unrelated volunteer donors. NMDP is the largest single point of access to unrelated donors, with currently over 6.5 million donors in the NMDP Registry.
Why are marrow donors needed?
Marrow is produced inside the larger bones of the body. It makes blood cells and even looks like blood, but it is a little thicker.
A marrow transplant may be used to treat and/or cure between 40 and 60 diseases including different forms of cancer and blood diseases such as leukemia that affect the marrow's ability to produce blood cells. It is also being used experimentally to treat the blood disease sickle cell anemia.
Unfortunately, nearly 70 percent of patients in need are unable to find suitably matched marrow donors within their families. It is these individual who search the NMDP Registry in numbers exceeding 3,000 each day. The unfortunate situation is that many patients die before finding a suitably matched donor. As the number of potential marrow donors grows, so do the chances of finding a match.
While all donors are needed, there is a critical need for minority volunteer donors. A majority of the volunteers on the National Marrow Donor Program Registry are Caucasian. Because tissue types are inherited, and some types are more common to certain racial or ethnic groups, a patient's best chance of finding a match is within his or her ethnic and racial group. More African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic and Native American volunteer donors are needed to give every patient the best possible chance of finding an unrelated donor.
For more information about becoming a donor or organizing a marrow typing drive with your organization, please call:
Dannie Moore, Recruitment & Community Development
National Marrow Donor Program
(513) 265-5242
Updated 5/13/09
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