Collaboration of the Immunodeficiency Patients Advocacy Association with the Immunology, Asthma, and Allergy Research Center for the donation of medical students’ blood to the Stem Cell Donation Bank
In collaboration with the Kish Mehr Charity Center, one of the active student organizations at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, about 250 students registered for membership in the unrelated stem cell donor bank of the Immunology, Asthma, and Allergy Research Center after studying the donation conditions and signing consent forms. Each individual donated four milliliters of blood for HLA typing.
According to the Public Relations of the Immunology, Asthma, and Allergy Research Center, a group of colleagues from the center, in cooperation with Kish Mehr Charity Center and the Immunodeficiency Patients Advocacy Association, were present from October 20 to 22, 2019, in the main building of the School of Medicine at Tehran University of Medical Sciences to collect blood samples from volunteer students for registration in the unrelated stem cell donor bank at the center.
Dr. Maryam Noroozi Zadeh, head of the stem cell bank at the center, stated: “With the establishment of the stem cell bank at the Immunology, Asthma, and Allergy Research Center and the launch of the HLA typing laboratory, this center is ready to cooperate with universities, governmental and non-governmental institutions, populations, and charity organizations to register donors in this bank and to receive blood samples for HLA typing.”
She added: “Since 2015, the center has been an active member of the National Network of Stem Cell Donors as one of the official enrollment centers, significantly increasing the number of volunteers to expand this network. This helps patients in need of stem cell transplants, especially those with primary immunodeficiency diseases, to find suitable donors within the country quickly and at lower costs without needing to go abroad.”
She explained: “There are three conditions for donating stem cells: First, the donor’s consent; second, no infection with dangerous viral diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, etc.; and third, the donor must be in appropriate age and in full health.”
Dr. Noroozi Zadeh pointed out: “Contrary to common belief, in most cases stem cells are not collected from the bone marrow. Instead, they are easily separated from peripheral blood using a special collection device, which causes no complications for the donor. Furthermore, the separated cells naturally regenerate quickly in the donor’s body without the need for medication.”
In conclusion, she said: “This campaign was supported by Kish Mehr Charity Center and the Immunodeficiency Patients Advocacy Association, under the direct supervision of the National Network of Unrelated Stem Cell Donors affiliated with the Ministry of Health and Medical Education.”
Report by: Elnaz Vahedi
Photo: Members of Kish Mehr Charity Center
