How your unique AANHPI ancestry can save a life
NMDP celebrates AANHPI Heritage Month
This month NMDPSM honors the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AANHPI) trailblazers who have shaped culture and history and continue to inspire us and influence our collective future. People like Mariel—who donated blood stem cells to a patient with acute myeloid leukemia (AML)—inspire us all to unlock the good inside of ourselves and push the boundaries of what’s possible.
Together we celebrate the cultures and contributions of the AANHPI community—whose vibrant tapestry has strengthened who we are as a society today and continues to weave a better, brighter world.
AANHPI donors like you can make a difference
Blood stem cell donation is a cure or treatment for over 75 different blood cancers and disorders. For the best transplant success, a patient needs to match a donor with similar genes called human leukocyte antigens (HLAs).
Since HLAs are passed down from each biological parent, a patient's best match is often a donor with a similar ethnic background. Unfortunately, individuals from ethnic groups that are underrepresented on the NMDP RegistrSM, such as those who identify as AANHPI, face greater challenges in finding a match. Your distinct heritage could be the key to saving someone's life.
Stories of hope
Shanon's one donation could help dozens of people
When Shanon said “yes” to being an NMDP BioTherapies donor, she became part of something truly groundbreaking. Her blood cell donation could be turned into a personalized treatment for one patient or many doses that can help dozens of patients.Donor for All research gave Amelia the chance for a cure
Amelia, who is half Indian and half African American, faced nearly impossible odds in finding a fully matched donor due to her uncommon HLA type. A clinical trial supported by the Donor for All initiative offered her a new path to a cure.
NMDP Donor for All: Transforming transplant access for AANHPI patients
Donor for All is breaking down barriers to life-saving transplants for AANHPI patients. By advancing research on the connection between HLA matching and transplant success, Donor for All is expanding options for patients who face challenges finding a fully matched donor. By using innovative treatment protocols with partially matched donors, we’re creating opportunities for AANHPI patients to receive the cures they need.
Do something life-saving today
There are as many reasons for joining the NMDP Registry as there are donors. Some join on behalf of a patient they know; others resonate with our mission of making sure every patient receives life-saving treatment. Regardless of the reason, all are united in the desire to join the movement and make cures possible for those in need. By joining the NMDP Registry, AANHPI individuals can help save lives within and beyond their community.