Ethnicity is more than an identity.  For patients in need of a life-saving blood stem cell transplant, it is a matter of life and death.  Patients are most likely to match donors who share the same ethnic background because genetic traits used to determine a match are inherited. 

Given the current makeup of the Be The Match Registry®, the likelihood of finding a match for patients in need of a transplant ranges from 23-77% depending on patient ethnic background.

When more healthy, young adults from diverse ethnic backgrounds register, more lives will be saved.

Although the chances of matching a patient in need are small … out of every 430 people who register as donors, only one will match a patient … each person who registers is important. 

Come learn about blood stem cell donation during this Lunch and Learn from Hawkeye Life-Savers – current UI students who have donated blood stem cells to patients in need.