Research at NMDP: Advancing transplant science
Fueling innovative cell therapy research to unlock access to life-saving treatments.
Today’s research leads to tomorrow’s breakthroughs
Research holds the key to saving more lives through cell therapy and improving the quality of life for thousands of patients with blood cancers like leukemia, blood disorders like sickle cell disease, rare diseases and beyond. At NMDP, research has been at our core for more than 35 years.
It's led to better survival, fewer complications and improved quality of life for patients after a blood stem cell transplant. Research is saving more lives today and opening the door to a blood stem cell transplant or another cell therapy for more patients than ever before.
Our research activities are broad but our focus is narrow. Patients.
Removing access barriers for all patients who need a life-saving cell therapy
We know barriers exist that can prevent many patients from having a cell therapy—or from thriving after treatment. Through research, we’re dedicated to uncovering and overcoming these barriers. And we won’t rest until we’ve created a world where every patient can receive their life-saving cell therapy.
These are two of NMDP’s current major initiatives to address inequities.
NMDP Donor for All
Patients count on us to deliver blood stem cells for a life-saving transplant. But not every patient has a full donor match leaving many without an option for a cure. Our Donor for All initiative aims to safely unlock access to blood stem cell transplant through innovative research efforts using partially matched donors.
ASTCT-NMDP ACCESS Initiative
Despite advances in blood stem cell transplant and other cell therapies, access and outcomes disparities remain for patients. That's why NMDP and the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) are targeting inequities through the ACCESS Initiative.
Clinical trials and research are making a difference
Clinical trials and research can provide hope, new treatment options and an opportunity to help future patients with blood cancers or blood disorders. We work with the global cell therapy community to improve access, survival, treatment and quality of life for patients.
CIBMTR® (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research®)
Patients are the reason we do research, and the reason that CIBMTR exists. As a research collaboration between the Medical College of Wisconsin® and NMDP, CIBMTR's clinical trials and observational research findings have contributed to major advances in treatment, survival and quality of life for patients around the world. This global collaborative effort has resulted in more than 1,800 publications and approximately 200 ongoing studies and clinical trials, driving the quest to save more lives.
CIBMTR collects outcomes data on nearly every allogeneic transplant performed in the U.S. and many transplant centers worldwide voluntarily submit their data to CIBMTR. The database contains outcomes information on more than 630,000 allogeneic and autologous transplant patients. The data offers a comprehensive view of outcomes trends and can be used for patient care decisions and to develop future research studies.
Jason Carter Clinical Trials Search and Support
Finding a clinical trial for a blood cancer or blood disorder isn’t always easy for patients. Our Clinical Trials Search and Support program offers one-on-one support for patients and their families as they navigate the world of clinical trials.
The real-world impact of clinical trials and research
Donor for All research gave Amelia the chance for a cure
Amelia, who is half Indian and half African American, faced nearly impossible odds in finding a fully matched donor due to her uncommon HLA type. A clinical trial supported by the Donor for All initiative offered her a new path to a cure.The ACCESS clinical trial gave Johanna a second chance at life
Johanna didn’t have a fully matched donor on the NMDP Registry. She enrolled in an NMDP-sponsored clinical trial that's part of Donor for All. That breakthrough research saved her life.Should the youngest blood stem cell donor be the top choice?
Results from a recent study reveal surprising insights into donor age and patient outcomes. Could expanding age criteria improve survival rates?
Supporting researchers to advance cell therapy science
Innovative research leads to breakthroughs that improve a patient’s quality of life after a blood stem cell transplant or another cell therapy. That's why we invest in talented researchers who aim to help patients not only survive but thrive. Our research grant programs are funded through philanthropy.
NMDP Amy Strelzer Manasevit Research Program
The Amy Research Program invests in early-career physician scientists whose research focuses on finding solutions for complications that can happen after cell therapy.
NMDP Barbara Buchbinder Nurse Research Program
The Buchbinder Nurse Research Program supports pediatric nurse researchers focused on improving the transplant experience and outcomes for pediatric patients.
Funding blood stem cell transplant research with a financial gift
People like you play a significant part in accelerating scientific progress. Your generous financial contributions allow us to fund research to continually advance treatments, improve outcomes and expand access for patients with blood cancers, blood disorders and rare diseases. When your potential to make a difference meets our emerging science, the impact we can make together multiplies.
Ensuring research integrity
Our research is conducted and reviewed with the highest integrity, ensuring there is no actual or apparent financial conflict of interest that could influence the conduct or review of the research. The financial conflict of interest policy (PDF) describes the requirements of researchers participating in studies with us.