Stem Cells: Donors

The number of minority ethnic and mixed heritage donors added to the United Kingdom aligned stem cell registry each year are presented in annual State of the Registry Reports, which can be found at the following link:

https://www.anthonynolan.org/what-we-do/our-organisation/annual-reviews-and-reports?page=1

It should be noted that the reports refer to donors ‘made active’, potential donors who have been tissue typed and are searchable on the registry, as opposed to ‘recruited’, when the details of the potential donor are first taken. There is a small delay from recruited to made active.

Data relating to stem cell transplantation, including patient demographic information and clinical outcomes, is collected by transplant centres. The Data Commission, established by the UK Stem Cell Strategic Forum, is working to make collection, availability, and analysis of this data is more consistent throughout the patient pathway from diagnosis to long term follow up.

NHS Blood and Transplant and registry partners continue to invest in digital infrastructure and participate in international initiatives to improve data exchange and streamline donor search and procurement processes. Work is ongoing to modernise registry connectivity through the adoption of new digital platforms and standards, improving end-to-end integration across the transplant pathway. These efforts will need to be complemented by investment in transplant centre data collection and exchange.

The Department has launched a comprehensive review of the current system to ensure stem cell supply and use for transplantation is optimised. Data systems and governance will be considered as part of this review.