New Resources from the NMDP
Office of Patient Advocacy

In 2007, the NMDP facilitated nearly 3,700 marrow and cord blood transplants for patients who do not have matching donors in their family.  However, many patients who have a blood-related cancer or other disease for which a bone marrow or cord blood transplant (also called a BMT) is a treatment option do not receive the transplant they need. The NMDP has created a new online tool, MatchView, to help patients explore unrelated marrow and cord blood transplant as one of their treatment options. 

MatchView allows patients to enter their Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) typing and view the number of potential matches (donors and cord blood units) on the NMDP Registry. To use MatchView, patients need HLA typing results for HLA-A, -B, and -DRB1. The matches are called potential because a transplant center must follow up to see if the potential donors and cord blood units are suitable and available. 

MatchView also includes information to help patients and caregivers
•     Understand HLA matching
•     Understand the steps in the search and transplant process

The purpose of MatchView is to increase patients’ access to information on transplant as a treatment option.  It can also help facilitate discussions between patients and their physicians regarding unrelated transplant and the appropriate next steps, if transplant is an option.

MatchView can be found on the NMDP’s Web site, at: www.marrow.org/matchview

Share Your Story

Transplant patients and families indicate that it is valuable to hear about the transplant experiences of others. To address this need, the National Marrow Donor Program’s Office of Patient Advocacy uses stories and quotes from transplant patients, their caregivers and family members in the majority of our publications.

If you are interested in sharing more about your transplant experience, contact us at patientinfo@nmdp.org, and we will e-mail you a form that asks questions such as:
•     How did you get information about transplant and treatment options
•     Talk about your support system following the transplant
•     What was most helpful to your recovery during your treatment?
•     Discuss some milestones that were important to you during the first 100 days after transplant.

Although not all patient and family stories will be used, your story will go on file for potential future publications. Your story could be used in conjunction with patient advocacy, donor recruitment, or other NMDP initiatives that work to give all patients the best possible chance to receive the life-saving transplant they need.

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