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Matt is shown in Gift of Life's collection center donating cells for a research project. He has a big smile and is doing a bicep curl with his right arm. He is dark-haired and fair-skinned, and is wearing a backwards baseball cap and a football tee shirt.

Introduction

Those who have joined Gift of Life Marrow Registry have more than one option for helping others. We may call you someday with an invitation to donate blood cells for medical research. Participation is completely voluntary. 

When you say yes, you help medical researchers and scientists discover new breakthroughs that can help people with many types of cancer, autoimmune diseases, and more. 

Gift of Life partners with hospitals, research institutions, and biopharmaceutical companies to provide them with cells that have specific characteristics. Just as we need the donor and recipient to have matching tissue type for a transplant to be successful, those same matching factors may be needed for a specific line of research. 

What kind of cells are needed? 

Several types of cells could be requested, depending on the research project:

What is the research about, and why is it important? 

Blood cells collected from healthy volunteers can be used as building blocks–also called "starter material"–that cell and gene therapy developers can use for research, or even use to create "living drugs" to treat patients battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases. 

What is the donation process like? 

To learn more about the process for collecting these cells, please visit Step 4 of the Donation Process. Please note that most donations for research do not require donors to receive Neupogen, and the bone marrow donation section of that page does not apply; no research donors are asked to give bone marrow. 

Can I still be found as a match for a patient if I have donated cells for research? 

Yes! You continue as an active member of Gift of Life's registry and you have the potential to match a patient in the future and donate PBSC or bone marrow to save that person's life. 

 

If you're invited to donate cells for research, we hope you'll say YES!
You could have an impact on thousands of patients in the future.

Featured Stories

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Jun 20, 2024

Philadelphia realtor asked to donate cells for research into new cellular therapies

Donor runs swab drive to help grow registry after her collection
Apr 18, 2024

Miami Beach man donated white blood cells to help advance research into new treatments

Donor joined registry after seeing donor-recipient introduction at 2021 Miami Gala
Sep 19, 2023

United States Airman donates mononuclear cells for medical research to develop new cures

Donor joined registry at X Ambassadors concert in 2017
Jun 20, 2023

Small business owner travels back home to donate cells for medical research

University of Southern California Kappa Kappa Gamma sister joined the registry on Birthright trip
May 30, 2023

Delta Zeta member donates cells in honor of family members and Sweet Caroline sorority sister

Donor to join Gift of Life partner Project Life Movement this summer after graduating
May 10, 2023

Second donor from one family gives mononuclear cells for medical research

Donor was inspired to join the registry by uncle’s 2013 bone marrow donation
Apr 24, 2023

New York man who joined registry on Birthright gives stem cells for scientific research

When he learned he could help multiple people, he jumped at the chance
Apr 07, 2023

Columbia University grad student donates mononuclear cells for medical research

Epsilon Sigma Alpha member is excited for her chance to give back to the community
Mar 27, 2023

University of North Carolina Charlotte graduate donates cells for medical research

Donor excited that many people may be helped from one donation
Mar 20, 2023

Mother donates cells for medical research twice in six months

Donating for research helps develop new treatments in the fight against cancer and other diseases
May 10, 2022

Stem cell donor excited to give cells destined for medical research

Donating for cellular therapy development has the potential to help save many lives