Page 18 - The Indian EYE 091925

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 | The Indian Eye 18

AAPI’s First Ever Nationwide Stem Cell

Donor Drive for Indian American Community

Receives Overwhelming Responses

OUR BUREAU

New York, NY
n a groundbreaking initiative, the American As-
sociation of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI)
Ihas launched the first-ever nationwide campaign
to expand the stem cell donor pool among Indians.
This effort addresses a critical gap in cancer treat-
ment options for patients of Indian descent, who
face significant challenges in finding compatible
donors due to ethnicity-specific Human Leukocyte
Antigen (HLA) matching. This noble initiative was
launched in 2024 under leadership of AAPI’s imme-
diate past President. Dr. Satheesh Kathula.
Dr. Amit Chakrabarty, AAPI President ex-
pressed deep gratitude to the many AAPI members
and students across the nation, who have been part
of these initiatives. “Stem cell transplants are a vi-
tal treatment for blood cancers such as leukemia
and lymphoma HLA markers, which determine
donor compatibility, are inherited and vary by eth-
nicity. I’m thankful to our local AAPI Chapter
leaders, members and volunteers across the nation
who have initiated and are spearheading the Bone
Marrow and Stem Cell Registration across the na-
tion, joining hands with the national AAPI in our
efforts in creating awareness and enrolling more
youth and adults to be part of this noble mission.”
Patients of Indian ethnicity are more likely to
match with Indian donors—but the existing donor
pool is alarmingly small. Until now, families have
had to organize donor drives independently, while
also coping with the emotional and medical toll of a
cancer diagnosis.
Stem cells are one of the treatment options for
certain types of cancers. HLA typing, based on which
stem cell donors and patients are matched is ethnic-
ity specific. Indian patients have higher chances of drives in Milwaukee, Atlanta, Louisville, Evansville, uary, 2026 in a grand scale. The campaign will then
matching with Indian donors. Unfortunately, Indian San Jose, Los Angeles, San Diego, Chattanooga, expand to medical schools across the country.
donor pool is very limited, making it difficult for pa- Huntsville, Little Rock, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Dr. Meher Medavaram, President-Elect, out-
tients to find a proper match. Moreover, until now, Columbus, Edison, Chicago, Charlotte, Scranton, lining the process, said, “Registration is simple.
patients and their families are doing these drives on Sunnyvale, Milpitas, Frisco, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Scan the QR code, fill out your details, and return
their own to find the match in addition to dealing Leesburg, and San Diego under the leadership of the cheek swab kit. Your HLA data will be stored
with the diagnosis. There has been no unified push the local high school and college students. AAPI securely.”
to increase the Indian donor pool. provides volunteer certificates to the students who Dr. Krishan Kumar, Vice President-Elect,
Recognizing this urgent need, AAPI partnered participate in the drives. while highlighting the disparity, said, “70% of pa-
with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), Dr. Hetal Gor, Chair of AAPI BOT, emphasized tients lack a family match. For Indians, the odds
the world’s largest stem cell registry—in 2024 to the need for commitment. She said, “You could be are even lower due to the limited donor pool.”
launch a unified, nationwide campaign. someone’s only match—their only hope. Registering Dr. Seema Arora, Secretary, described the
Dr. Sashi Kuppala, Chair of the Stem Cell Drive, is a serious promise, but the donation process is safe donation logistics, stating, “If matched, you’ll pro-
while explaining the science, said “Matching donors and complication-free.” vide blood samples locally. Travel may be required,
is based on HLA typing, which is inherited and eth- With the experience gained in the US, AAPI is but all costs are covered. The process takes 20–30
nicity-specific. Thousands of patients rely on trans- expanding the stem cell drives to India. AAPI has hours over 4–6 weeks.”
plants to survive.” Dr. Kuppala pointed to the “tre- partnered with the Global Association of Indian Dr. Soumya Nerevetla, Treasurer, in reinforc-
mendous response to this initiative from the AAPI Medical Students, and DATRI, the stem cell bank in ing the impact of Stem Donors on saving lives, said,
members and the wider Indian community.” India and launching the stem cell drives at the Glob- “Finding a match is especially difficult for South
Since November 2024, AAPI has organized al Health Summit in Bhubaneswar, Odisha in Jan- Asians. Every donor helps save lives.”

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