Marrow Donors UA medical students from minority student groups are sponsoring two bone marrow drives that seek donors from minority populations. The current national donor list is predominately Caucasian, making minority patients less likely to find a match. UA medical students want to help fill the need for minority donors.
Media are welcome to attend the event.
F. Every year, more than 30,000 children and adults in the United States are diagnosed with fatal blood diseases such as leukemia. For many of these patients, a bone marrow transplant is the only potential cure. This transplant is possible only when the bone marrow of the patient and donor matches. The odds of finding an unrelated donor vary widely, depending on the patient's marrow type. The current donor list, however, is predominately Caucasian, making minority patients less likely to find a match.