Gift of Life Marrow Registry

Gift of Life was founded following a successful bone marrow registration drive to save the life of Jay Feinberg, a 22-year-old analyst with the Federal Reserve.[2][3]

Feinberg was diagnosed with leukemia in 1991, and from 1991 to 1995 a campaign was organized to register new donors. He was told that a transplant could save his life, but he would die because he could not find a matching donor. Since tissue type is inherited, like eye or hair color, a patient's best chance of finding a genetic match lies with those of similar ethnic background. For Feinberg, those were donors of Eastern European Jewish descent. Unfortunately, the worldwide registry was not representative of all ethnic groups. There was an urgent need to add diversity to the registry, and time was of the essence.[4]

Only 30 percent of patients with diseases treatable with a bone marrow transplant can find a suitable donor among their family members. The remaining 70 percent must rely on the generosity of an unrelated donor to save their lives. There are more than 90 marrow and stem cell donor registries in 56 countries.[5]

Gift of Life was the first registry in the world to human leukocyte antigen tissue type bone marrow donors on a mass scale at donor drives using buccal swabs.

Since its inception in 1991, Gift of Life has found 17,888 matches and facilitated more than 3,645 bone marrow transplants. More than 370,000 donors are currently registered with Gift of Life.[6]

Bone Marrow:[7] Marrow is found in the hollow cavities of the body's large bones. Donation involves withdrawing 2-3 percent of the donor's total marrow from the iliac crest of the hip, posterior aspect of the donor's pelvic bone. There is no cutting or stitching. The procedure involves a needle aspiration, performed using an anesthetic. Typically, the donor enters a medical center’s outpatient facility in the morning and goes home in the afternoon. Today, bone marrow is requested approximately 20 percent of the time.

Peripheral Blood Stem Cells (PBSC):[8] It is possible to collect stem cells from the peripheral blood rather than the bone marrow. In order to collect a sufficient quantity of stem cells, injections of a medication called filgrastim must be administered. This mobilizes stem cells to travel from the bone marrow into the circulating blood. The stem cells are collected through a procedure called apheresis, which is similar to the process used in platelet donation. A cell separating machine filters out the stem cells, which can then be infused into the recipient. Today, PBSC is requested approximately 80 percent of the time.

There are clinical reasons why one cellular source may be more beneficial for the patient over the other. The transplant physician requests one source based on the patient's circumstances. If a donor declines to donate via one method, the transplant center may or may not be able to accept the other, based on the clinical needs of the patient.

The Volunteer Network is made up of donors, transplant recipients and volunteers whose commitment and enthusiasm translates to greater visibility in the community. The goals of the Volunteer Network are to broaden the public’s recognition of marrow and stem cell donation, engage the community in its work, serve as donor and patient advocates, and boost financial support by cultivating new sources of revenue which enable more donors to be tested. As representatives of the cause, participants increase public awareness of the life-saving mission and enlist others to join the registry so that more patients can find the matches they need, when they need them.

In April 2019, Gift of Life opened the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Gift of Life - Be the Match Collection Center in collaboration with the Be The Match Registry at its Florida headquarters.[9] The Collection Center primarily collects blood stem cells from donors for transplant into a patient. The stem cells are taken by a courier to the patient’s transplant center. Gift of Life is the first Registry to operate its own in-house collection center.

Gift of Life opened a Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at its Boca Raton location in November 2020.[10] The facility houses a Cellular Therapy Laboratory and BioBank. High complexity testing (hematology and flow cytometry), processing (Sepax 2) and cryopreservation are performed at this location. The BioBank will have an inventory of cellular therapy products (HPC-A) from "super donors" sourced from the Gift of Life registry. Some of the products will be used in the developing field of CAR-T cell therapy.

The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1986 and based in Minneapolis,[11] that operates the Be The Match Registry of volunteer donors and cord blood units. In May 2004, the Gift of Life Marrow Registry and the NMDP formed an associate donor registry relationship together.

DKMS, a German bone marrow registry, also operates a large US bone marrow registry.[12]

• Dell’Antonia, Kj (January 5, 2015). "Charities That Inspire Kids: Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation". The New York Times. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
• Dorfman, Steve (June 24, 2016). "Gift Of Life". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
• Abo, Jessica (November 16, 2012). "Celebrating the Gift of Life and How to Give It". The Huffington Post. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
• "Maccabeats Return To Raise Money For Bone Marrow Foundation". The Huffington Post. December 21, 2011. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
• Goldberg, Eleanor (February 2, 2012). "Carrying On Ayelet's Fight For Life". The Huffington Post. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
• "Bone-marrow donors give a 'huge gift of hope'". WCVB. March 28, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
• "Saving a Life is Easier Than You Think". The Huffington Post. May 19, 2015.
• "Equal Opportunity for Those Needing Bone Marrow Transplants". The Huffington Post. March 22, 2016.

• Official website
• World Marrow Donor Association
• World Marrow Donor Day