Stem Cell Donor Center Rhine-Main 2014/2015
Blood stem cells can save lives!
In Germany, more than 10,000 people are diagnosed with leukemia every year, including around 2,000 children.
A blood stem cell transplant is performed prior to radiotherapy or chemotherapy, which can affect the stem cells. In many cases, people affected by leukemia have a disturbed hematopoietic system as a direct result of the disease, which can be regenerated by using blood stem cells. In addition, the transfused hematopoietic stem cells support the destruction of the cancer cells in the patient's body.
An important prerequisite for a successful transplant is that the tissue characteristics match. However, only around 30% of all patients find a suitable donor among their own relatives. The rest are dependent on donors from outside the family.
The Central Bone Marrow Donor Registry Germany collects the anonymized donor data relevant for a search. The chances of finding a suitable “lifesaver” via the register are high. 75% of patients have found a donor after 3 months.
With more than a quarter of a million donors, the German Stem Cell Donor Center (DSSD) Rhine-Main is the third largest center in Germany. More than 2000 seriously ill children and adults have found a lifesaver through the DSSD.
The DSSD is a non-profit organization and is integrated into the structure of the German Red Cross. Several hundred campaigns have been carried out since it was founded. The typing of each potential stem cell donor required for registration costs € 50 and is not covered by health insurance. The costs must therefore be financed by donations. The DSSD has developed various ways of providing support through donations ('community of sponsors', 'sponsorships for registrations', 'donations instead of donations', etc.).
The Chairman of the FFBT e.V., Prof. Dr. Kai Uwe Chow, has pledged his support to the medical director of the German Stem Cell Donor Center, Prof. Dr. Christian Seidl.
Click here for the stem cell donor database