Stem Cell Donor Drives
The first nationwide effort to add more people of Indian origin to the stem cell donor registry, so patients with blood cancers can find a match.
Why it matters
A match often depends on ancestry
A stem cell transplant can be a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and other blood disorders. Donors and patients are matched by HLA tissue type, which is inherited, so patients are most likely to find a match among donors who share their ancestry.
Indian patients face long odds: Asians make up only about 7% of donors in the global registry. Before AAPI's initiative, families of patients were often left to organize their own donor drives while coping with the diagnosis.
How a drive works
A cheek swab can save a life
Students lead
High school and college students organize drives at temples, festivals, schools and community centers, with AAPI physicians as mentors. Volunteers earn AAPI volunteer-hour certificates.
Check eligibility
Healthy adults ages 18–40 fill out a short registration form on the secure registry portal.
Swab and register
A quick cheek swab is all it takes to join the registry. There is no cost to the donor; registry partners cover testing.
Ready if matched
Registered donors stay on call. If a patient matches, the registry contacts the donor to confirm and arrange donation.
From the drives
Highlights
Milestones
From one drive to a national movement
November 2024
Launch with NMDP
AAPI partners with NMDP, the world's largest stem cell donor registry, and holds its first drives.
2025
Drives in 15+ cities
Student-led drives spread from Milwaukee to San Diego, Atlanta to Houston.
January 2026
First drive in India
238 donors join the DATRI registry at the Global Health Summit in Odisha.
Summer 2026
Partnership with DKMS
New regions join every week; 12 drives in three weeks add 219 donors.
Where we've been
28 cities and counting
Partners: NMDP, DKMS and DATRI (India).
Photo archive
Every drive, year by year
36 photos. Open a period, then select a photo to see it larger.
2024–2025The first drives, with NMDP19 photos
Student-led drives in cities across the United States, starting November 2024.
Fall 2025Expanding to new cities4 photos
Drives in new communities, including Pittsburgh with a partner physician association.
Late 2025Community drives2 photos
January 2026First drive in India4 photos
238 potential donors registered with DATRI at the AAPI Global Health Summit in Odisha.
Summer 2026Drives with DKMS7 photos
Twelve drives in six regions between July 24 and August 12 added 219 donors to the registry.
Bring a drive to your community
AAPI members, students and community groups can host a stem cell drive. We provide guidance, materials and registry partners, and students earn volunteer-hour certificates.