Be Part of a Global Team of Life-Savers
Every year, thousands of people get really sick from blood cancers or genetic diseases. For many of them, the only chance to get better is a transplant of stem cells, bone marrow, or cord blood. But here’s the problem: finding the right match is not easy. It’s even harder for people with mixed heritage or from ethnic minority groups, because for them there are fewer matches in the WMDA global database. By signing up as a voluntary stem cell donor, you might change the odds for someone who needs help to survive. And one day you could get the call because you are the perfect match for a patient in need.
Who Can Register?
- Most countries allow registration if you are between 18 and 35 years old
- You need to be healthy and meet safe weight limits
- You need to be committed and willing to donate, if you get called
- Some regulations vary, depending on where you live
WMDA helps set the guidelines for safe and fair donation worldwide, but the details can differ per country. You can check if you are eligible to register, using the tool below.
Donor form
There are three ways to donate:
Bone Marrow Collection
- A short medical procedure where doctors collect stem cells from your pelvis under anesthesia.
- It’s very safe, with risks similar to those of general anesthesia.
- Most donors recover in a few days, with minor side effects like fatigue or bruising.
Peripheral Blood Stem Cells Collection
- A safe, common method where you get daily injections for a few days to increase stem cells.
- The cells are collected from your blood—similar to donating plasma.
- Side effects are usually mild (like flu-like symptoms) and go away quickly.
- Serious complications are very rare (less than 1% of cases).
Umbilical Cord Blood Collection
- After a baby is born, the placenta and umbilical cord still contain valuable stem cells.
- This cord blood can be collected, frozen, and stored for future transplants.
- Collection is completely safe and painless for both the mother and baby.
- Parents can choose to donate their baby’s cord blood to a public bank to help patients in need.