Why are racially and ethnically diverse donors urgently needed?
For a successful transplant, the tissue type of a bone marrow donor or a cord blood unit needs to match the patient’s as closely as possible. Tissue types are inherited, so patients are more likely to match someone who shares their racial or ethnic heritage. And patients from racially or ethnically diverse communities can have a harder time finding a match. Because cord blood does not need to match a patient as closely as donated bone marrow, cord blood transplants may offer hope to these patients. In 2008, 36% of cord blood units used in transplants facilitated by the NMDP went to patients from racially or ethnically diverse communities.
