The National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP) has facilitated more than 55,000 transplants for patients throughout the world who have leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases. As the most comprehensive bone marrow and umbilical cord blood transplant resource, we work to provide hope and deliver a cure to all patients in need. The NMDP also operates Be The Match®.
In addition to providing support and resources to patients before, during, and after transplant, Be the Match helps transplant patients by matching volunteer donors and cord blood units with patients, diversifying the registry to help more patients, and conducting research to improve transplant outcomes.
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 search for an unrelated donor or umbilical cord blood unit for you. Your doctor can work with the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP) to search our Be The Match Registry® and other registries around the world — more than 20.5 million potential donors and more than 590,000 cord blood units.
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