A myth-busting Teams talk by stem cell biologist Dr Jill Shepherd on Thursday 29 October (12:30 -13:30 BST) will launch a University of Kent and Kent Union virtual bone marrow drive.
The talk, entitled ‘Online Stem Cell Donor Drive: Get The Facts in Black & White’, aims to increase overall bone marrow donor sign-ups, whilst specifically emphasising the global need for donations by Black and other BAME groups which have a shortage of donors.
A bone marrow transplant (also called a ‘stem cell transplant’) has been an accepted treatment for certain blood cancers (some forms of leukaemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma) for many years. Bone marrow transplantation is also a widely accepted treatment for other blood diseases, for example Sickle Cell Disease which is most prevalent in people of Black African ethnicity.
When a bone marrow transplant is needed as a treatment, a donor with a matching ‘tissue type’ is required to supply the cells for transplantation. A ‘tissue type’ is based on genetics, and so a patient’s ‘best match’ will come from someone with the same ethnicity. Black donors make up only 1.2% of potential donors on the British Bone Marrow Registry. The shortage of Black donors is not confined to the UK; there is a global need for more Black stem cell donors for Black patients.
During her talk, Dr Shepherd, a lecturer in Stem Cell Biology at the University’s School of Biosciences, will address the myths that sometimes discourage people from becoming donors. These include:
- ‘You have to be young to register to donate.’ The DKMS charity takes donors ages 18-55.
- ‘Bone marrow donation involves a painful surgery.’ It is usually far easier than that. 90% of stem cell donations take place via peripheral blood stem cell collection, which is similar to an extended session of giving blood and does not involved surgery or anaesthesia.
- ‘Once I donate my stem cells, I will not get them back.’ Your body is continually making blood stem cells, and your supply will naturally replenish itself in 2-4 weeks.
- ‘To register as a donor, I need to give a blood sample.’ Again, it is much easier than that. To register, fill in the short online form. A cheek-swab kit will be sent to you through the standard post. Send your swab back by freepost to the charity and wait to see if you’re a potential donor.
- ‘As part of registering as a donor, I will need to have an HIV test.’ The only test done at the point of registration is the determination of your tissue type from the cheek swab. If you are ever called upon to donate, then need to ensure you have no infectious diseases that could be passed onto the patient. Therefore, only at that point are you tested for diseases including HIV and chronic Hepatitis B and C.
Dr Shepherd said: ‘For thousands of patients each year in the UK alone, and thousands more across the globe, a stem cell transplant (also called a bone marrow transplant) is their only chance at life. Taking the simple test to see if you’re a match as a stem cell donor can mean this is your chance to be their only chance.
‘The fact is that Black patients are far less likely than white patients to find a donor who is their “best match”. White Northern Europeans have a 69% chance of finding the best possible matched donor. Sadly, for Black patients, this chance is less than 20%. The world needs more Black donors.’
The drive is open to all, and those aged 18-55 can register as a donor.