Stem cell registry highlighted on Breakfast Television

Our director of stem cells, Dr. Heidi Elmoazzen, and stem cell recipient Mackenzie Curran were on Breakfast Television Toronto in February to talk about the need for more people from diverse backgrounds to join the stem cell registry. Expanding the diversity of the registry will give hope to the hundreds of patients waiting for a lifesaving stem cell transplant. Click here to watch the interview.

Donated stem cells can be used to treat more than 80 blood cancers and disorders. However, as a result of COVID-19, stem cell recruitment has dropped by nearly 70%, which threatens the health of hundreds of patients across Canada awaiting a match. Only a quarter of these patients will find a match within their own family. The rest must rely on the urgent action of strangers for help. Potential donors from diverse backgrounds are especially needed, as shared ethnicity is the best indicator of a suitable match.

We urge healthy Canadians between 17 and 35 years of age to join the Canadian Blood Services Stem Cell Registry online and order their swab kit to be delivered by mail. Register at blood.ca/stemcells