A brief introduction of the Chinese Marrow Donor Program

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Immunology
• Public Health

Background:

• The Chinese Marrow Donor Program (CMDP) was established to address the need for unrelated stem cell transplantation in China.
• It operates under the Red Cross Society of China, guiding volunteer recruitment, HLA typing, and transplantation processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the establishment and operational framework of the CMDP.
• To report the growth and capabilities of the donor registry and cord blood bank.
• To highlight the CMDP's role in facilitating domestic and international hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Main Methods:

• Establishment of a national network of registries and HLA-typing laboratories.
• Recruitment and registration of hematopoietic stem cell donors.
• Formation of partnerships with cord blood banks and clinical transplantation centers.
• Implementation of standardized HLA typing and quality control procedures.

Main Results:

• As of 2008, CMDP included over 950,000 registered donors and 30,000 cord blood units.
• Over 1,100 successful peripheral blood stem cell donations have been facilitated.
• Preliminary searches and over 50 donations have been completed for international patients.
• CMDP has established relationships with over 100 hospitals and five major cord blood banks.

Conclusions:

• The CMDP has successfully filled a critical gap in China's capacity for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and donor searches.
• The program significantly enhances the potential for matching and utilizing stem cell sources for patients globally.
• CMDP plays a vital role in advancing unrelated stem cell transplantation in China and contributing to the international donor pool.