DKMS- BMST registered 250 Students as Potential Stem Cell Donors at IIT Kharagpur

Kharagpur, October 10, 2023: In an effort to raise awareness about the importance of blood stem cell donation and inspire individuals to become potential lifesavers, DKMS BMST Foundation India organized a registration drive for stem cell donors during the 'National Students’ Space Challenge (NSSC),' India’s largest Space-Technology festival, hosted at IIT Kharagpur.

 
Inspired by the legacy of Kalpana Chawla, IIT Kharagpur continues to drive space technology advancement, and empower young talents to showcase innovations and scientific curiosity under the theme "Fora Galaxia."
 

As the festival's official social initiative partner, DKMS-BMST set out to encourage students to become potential lifesavers by enlisting in the global registry of stem cell donors. The response was overwhelming, with over 250 students registering and expressing their commitment to this noble cause. The 3-day fest was a huge success with eminent Dr. V. Narayana, Director, Department of Liquid Propulsion Systems Center, ISRO gracing the event as the guest speaker.
 

In India, where over 70,000 people succumb to blood cancer annually, accounting for 8% of all new cancer cases, a blood stem cell transplant from an HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) matching donor is often the only hope. However, only 25-30% of patients in need can find HLA matching donors within their family, leaving 70% dependent on unrelated donors, accessible through stem cell registries. Given the significance of ethnic matching, the probability of Indian patients finding a suitable stem cell donor is significantly higher when seeking donors among fellow Indians.
 

Patrick Paul, CEO, DKMS BMST Foundation India, emphasized the critical shortage of blood stem cell donors in the country, "Every five minutes, a new case of blood cancer or a blood disorder, such as Thalassemia or Aplastic Anemia, is diagnosed in India. The availability of matching blood stem cell donors remains a significant challenge for Indian patients in need of life-saving transplants. Currently, with over 41 million registered donors worldwide, India contributes just 0.6 million donors. India being the youngest population, it is crucial to encourage more young individuals to register as stem cell donors. Our aim is to amplify awareness about blood stem cell donation through students and youth, as they represent the future of the nation."

Priyansh Agarwal, Sponsorship and Marketing Head, organizing committee, National Students’ Space Challenge 2023, IIT Kharagpur, said, ‘’I am delighted that NSCC’ 2023 has joined forces with DKMS-BMST as the social initiative partner. We highly value their contributions in aiding blood cancer and blood disorder patients. We firmly believe in the immense potential of today's youth to inspire their peers toward this noble endeavour. There is nothing more extraordinary than the act of saving a life, and as an institution, we take great pride in being part of an initiative that raises public awareness about the significance of registering as a blood stem cell donor and its profound impact on a patient's life.’’

'’We extend our heartfelt gratitude to IIT Kharagpur and its dedicated students for their invaluable support in orchestrating this registration drive. DKMS-BMST is committed to hosting numerous similar awareness and registration campaigns at educational institutions nationwide, with a particular focus on the youth demographic. Their sustained presence in the registry significantly enhances the likelihood of finding matching donors for patients in need’’ said, Patrick Paul, CEO of DKMS-BMST.