DKMS-BMST spreads awareness about stem cell donation at IIT Kanpur’s Antaragni 24

New Delhi: In an effort to raise awareness about the increasing incidence of blood cancer in India and the crucial role of stem cell transplant as a treatment option, DKMS BMST Foundation India organized stem cell donor registration drive at the prestigious IIT Kanpur annual festival, Antaragni 24.

The event, celebrated for over 55 years, is one of the largest and most anticipated cultural festivals in Asia, attracting over 20,000 attendees.

Blood cancer, a type of cancer affecting the blood and bone marrow, has been on the rise in recent years. Stem cell transplantation is often considered a life-saving treatment option for patients suffering from these conditions. In this life-saving medical procedure, a patient’s diseased or damaged bone marrow cells are replaced with healthy stem cells from a matching donor. Blood stem cells can regenerate into healthy blood cells, giving patients a second chance at life. However, finding a matching stem cell donor can be difficult, as there is only a 1-in-a-million chance of a patient finding a match on the registry.

In India, every year, over 1 lakh people are diagnosed with blood cancer or a blood disorder. For a successful blood stem cell transplant, patients need a perfect HLA-matching donor. Unfortunately, only 0.09 % of the Indian population have registered as potential donors. Patients and donors of Indian origin have unique HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) characteristics severely under-represented in the global database, making the probability of finding a suitable donor even more difficult.

Micro-influencers from Kanpur played a pivotal role in spreading awareness about the DKMS cause. Somya Tandon, Ayushi Awasthi, Kanpur STORIES, and Siddharth Thakur used their online platforms to educate the youth about the importance of stem cell donation and encourage them to register as potential stem cell donors with DKMS-BMST.

“Today’s youth are incredibly motivated to make a difference in the world,” said Patrick Paul, CEO of DKMS BMST Foundation India. “A cause like donating stem cells perfectly aligns with their values. By registering as potential stem cell donors, they have the power to give someone a second chance at life,” he added.

DKMS-BMST is working to create a diverse and committed stem cell donor registry in India to help patients battling blood cancer and blood disorders. Their participation in Antaragni 24 was a significant step towards raising awareness and inspiring the next generation to become potential lifelines for those in need.