How the NMDP Helps Patients

The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) has helped more than 35,000 patients throughout the world receive a transplant to treat leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases. As the most comprehensive bone marrow and cord blood transplant resource, we work to provide hope and deliver a cure to all patients in need.

Providing resources for transplant patients

The NMDP Office of Patient Advocacy connects patients and their families to services they need from diagnosis through survivorship. We help patients and their families gain access to transplant and ensure that patients receive the best possible medical care. We want patients to call us any time they have a question. Our professional case managers can help patients:

• Learn about the transplant process
• Understand transplant statistics and information
• Prepare a financial plan and understand insurance coverage
• Get support and connect with other resources

You can contact the NMDP Office of Patient Advocacy by phone or e-mail.

Related links: Support & Resources,  Patient Assistance: Overcoming Financial Barriers to Transplant 

Matching volunteer donors and cord blood units with patients

If you need a transplant and do not have a matching donor in your family, your doctor can contact the NMDP to search our Be The Match Registry^SM for an adult donor or cord blood unit.

A single search conducted through the NMDP gives your doctor access to more than 7 million donors and nearly 90,000 cord blood units on our Be The Match Registry, as well as an additional 5 million donors and cord blood units through our partnerships around the world.

Related links: The Search Process,  HLA Matching: Finding the Best Donor or Cord Blood Unit

Diversifying the registry to help more patients

For a successful transplant, the tissue type of a bone marrow donor or cord blood unit needs to match the patient's as closely as possible. Because tissue types are inherited, patients are more likely to match someone from their own race or ethnicity. 

We have a registry of millions, but we still do not have matched bone marrow donors or cord blood units for all patients, especially those from racially and ethnically diverse communities. We are working to make sure every patient has the best possible chance to receive the transplant he or she needs. Through ongoing initiatives, we work with civic, community, corporate and faith-based organizations to reach people where they live and work. 

Related links: The Need for Donors, About Be The Match, Donor Recruitment: A Match for Every Patient 

Conducting research to improve transplant outcomes

We conduct and support research through our partner, the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR). Our goal is to help patients live longer, healthier lives and ensure that donors have an optimal donation experience.

Related links: Research: Advancing the Science of Transplant, Learning about Clinical Trials, Funding the Next Generation of Transplant Research