Iranian Donors Save Lives

Iranian donors are needed.

Many patients with blood diseases require a stem cell transplant as part of their treatment, and many do not have a fully matched donor in their family. Patients are more likely to find a match from within their own ethnic group, but Iranian donors are underrepresented on the Canadian stem cell registry.

We asked Iranian People to share the reasons why they signed up as donors. Here is what they said:

@stemcells.unite Nowruz Mabarak! 🎊🇮🇷 It looks like we are adding stem cell swab kits in our Haftseen this year! Visit http://stemcellclub.ca/Iranian/ to learn more about how you can become a stem cell donor and help save a life! #nowruz #nowruzmubarak #haftseen #iranian #persian #farsitiktok #stemcells #stemcelldonation #toronto #canada #fyp ♬ original sound - Stem Cells Unite

@stemcells.unite Iranians, we need you! Visit http://stemcellclub.ca/Iranian/ to learn more about how you can become a stem cell donor and help save a life! #iranian #ethnic #science #persian #canada #toronto #stemcells #stemcelldonation #stemcellclub #getswabbed #savelives #health #fashion #trend #fyp ♬ original sound - Stem Cells Unite

@stemcells.unite Visit stemcellclub.ca/Iranian to learn more about how you can become a stem cell donor and help save a life! #fyp #stemcells #iranian #persian #toronto #ontario #canada🇨🇦 ♬ Spider-Man: No Way Home - Trailer Music - L'Orchestra Cinematique

@stemcells.unite Visit stemcellclub.ca/Iranian to learn more about how you can become a stem cell donor and help save a life! #fyp #stemcells #iranian #persian #toronto #ontario #canada🇨🇦 ♬ Moto moto meme from yuh boi grandmascoochie - tanner

@stemcells.unite The best way to celebrate your 17th birthday is by helping your community. Visit http://stemcellclub.ca/Iranian/ to learn more about how you can become a stem cell donor and help save a life! #birthday #fyp #stemcells #iranian #persian #toronto #ontario #canada🇨🇦 ♬ Happy Birthday - Jovanie

@stemcellsfu Do you think you’re eligible? If yes, check out the link in bio + comments to register🤩 #HopeforShahin #fypシ #you #donate #stemcells #persian #iran ♬ Blue Blood - Heinz Kiessling & Various Artists

@stemcells.unite How to join the stem cell registry! #iranian #ethnic #science #canada #toronto #stemcells #stemcelldonation #stemcellclub #getswabbed #savelives #health ♬ original sound - Stem Cells Unite

@stemcells.unite Visit stemcellclub.ca/Iranian to learn more about how you can become a stem cell donor and help save a life! #fyp #stemcells #iranian #persian #toronto #ontario #canada🇨🇦 ♬ Doctor - Sasy

Meet Ali

Ali has been a dedicated volunteer with the Stem Cell Club at Western University since 2015, working to recruit other students as potential donors. Unfortunately, in the summer of 2016, Ali was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Ali went through treatment and is currently in remission from his cancer. He continues to advocate for stem cell donation as Iranians and other ethnic groups are underrepresented on stem cell donor registries, making it hard for them to find a match. He shares his story with the hope that it will inspire others to register as donors.

Hear from Ali and other Iranians impacted by stem cell donation:

We are sharing Ali's story to raise awareness about the need for Iranian stem cell donors.

Hear from Iranian-Canadian Comedian Neema Naz about how to sign up as a stem cell donor.

@stemcells.unite Hear from Iranian-Canadian Comedian Neema Naz about how to sign up as a stem cell donor. Visit http://stemcellclub.ca/Iranian/ to learn more about how you can become a stem cell donor and help save a life! #iranian #ethnic #science #canada #toronto #stemcells #stemcelldonation #stemcellclub #getswabbed #savelives #health #fyp @NeemaNaz ♬ piano joint - Conor Albert

"Patients from many ethnic backgrounds, including Iranian patients, are unable to find suitable donors due to lack of representation in donor registries. No matter where you are in the world, you can be the hero that saves someone's life."

Farsi Resources

@stemcells.unite Nowruz Mabarak! 🎉🇮🇷 Our Haftseen isn’t complete without a stem cell swab kit! Visit http://stemcellclub.ca/Iranian/ to learn more about how you can become a stem cell donor and help save a life! #nowruz #nowruzmubarak #haftseen #iranian #persian #farsitiktok #stemcells #stemcelldonation #toronto #canada #fyp ♬ original sound - Stem Cells Unite

@stemcells.unite “Did you know that Iranians make up 1.1% of the population worldwide but only 0.2% are on the stem cell registry? So let’s all unite together for this cause, help more people and get swabbed!” - Parastoo (Stem Cell Club Volunteer), [Translated from Farsi]Visit http://stemcellclub.ca/Iranian/ to learn more about how you can become a stem cell donor and help save a life! #Iranian #nowruz #stemcells #savelives #getswabbed #help #farsi ♬ original sound - Stem Cells Unite

What is stem cell donation?

Watch this whiteboard video to learn more about blood stem cell donation, how it helps patients in need, how the matching process works, and what donation looks like.

How are stem cells donated?

There are 2 ways in which stem cells can be donated:

Blood - 90% of the time stem cells are obtained from a simple procedure that is similar to giving blood. A growth factor is used to increase stem cell count in blood, which is then collected in a procedure taking around 4-6 hours.
Bone marrow - stem cell donation from bone marrow is necessary less than 10% of the time. The procedure is performed under anesthesia and donors who have undergone bone marrow donation report the feeling post-donation to be similar to falling on ice.

If matched with a patient, a physician will decide which method is best suited under the circumstances at hand. See the images below for details on how each procedure is performed.