Gift of Life Marrow Registry

The Gift of Life Marrow Registry is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives through blood stem cell and bone marrow transplants. Founded in 1991, it operates a public registry to facilitate transplants for patients battling life-threatening illnesses, including leukemia, lymphoma, other cancers, and genetic diseases.

Mission

Gift of Life's mission is to cure blood cancer by engaging the public in finding voluntary donors and supporting advancements in cellular therapy. The organization believes that every person battling blood cancer deserves a second chance at life.

History

Gift of Life was established following a successful bone marrow registration campaign to save the life of Jay Feinberg, a 22-year-old analyst with the Federal Reserve. Feinberg was diagnosed with leukemia in 1991, and after four years of searching, a match was found with a 16-year-old girl from Illinois. This experience highlighted the urgent need to diversify the registry, as matching donors are often found among those of similar ethnic backgrounds.

Registry and Operations

The registry contains over 470,000 potential donors and has facilitated more than 5,000 transplants since its inception. To join the registry, individuals undergo a quick cheek swab to determine their HLA factors, which are then entered into the worldwide registry. Doctors can search the registry to find matches for patients in need. If a match is found, donors are contacted by Gift of Life and offered the opportunity to donate.

Stem cell donations are typically done through apheresis, a process similar to donating platelets, which is used in about 85% of transplants. Bone marrow donations are usually requested for young children and are performed under general anesthesia.

Impact and Partnerships

Gift of Life has found more than 31,000 donor matches. In April 2019, the organization opened the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Gift of Life - NMDP Collection Center in collaboration with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). Additionally, a Center for Cell and Gene Therapy was established in November 2020, which includes advanced laboratories for cellular therapy.

Gift of Life partners with various organizations to increase donor diversity and raise awareness about the importance of bone marrow and stem cell donation, especially in underrepresented ethnic groups. The organization emphasizes that the best chance of finding a match lies with donors from the same ethnic background as the patient.

Activities

Gift of Life engages in community events, recruitment drives, and fundraising efforts to support its mission. The organization encourages public participation through volunteering, financial support, and donor registration. Personalized Donor Circles allow supporters to create fundraising campaigns and track their impact on saving lives.

By leveraging its resources and partnerships, Gift of Life continues to expand its registry and enhance the chances of patients finding life-saving matches.