Number of life-saving stem cell donations by Black, Asian and mixed ethnicity donors is at a 10-year high

New figures show the number of life-saving stem cell donations by Black, Asian and mixed ethnicity donors is at a 10-year high, having doubled since 2015/2016.

New figures show the number of life-saving stem cell donations by Black, Asian and mixed ethnicity donors is at a 10-year high, having doubled since 2015/2016 (1).

In the same period, the number of people from ethnic minority backgrounds signed up to the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry has increased by 151% (2).

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is celebrating the news of the rising number of donors and appealing for more people of Black and Asian heritage, or from mixed ethnicities, to register as potential donors, to ensure more patients from ethnic minorities can get the life-saving stem cell transplant they need.

Despite the increase in registrations, only 11% of the people signed up as potential donors through the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry are from ethnic minorities, meaning patients of Black or Asian heritage, or of other mixed ethnicities are still finding it significantly harder to find a life-saving match than Caucasian patients – patients are most likely to match with a donor of a similar heritage.

Growing awareness due to campaigns by NHSBT, other registries and charities is thought to be contributing to the rising number of donors.

Registering as a potential stem cell donor is easy and most people will never be asked to donate, but when they are, it can be life-saving – in many cases, a stem cell transplant is a patient's only chance of a cure. Donors can join the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry at a regular blood, platelet or plasma donation appointment.

Stem cells can be found in the bone marrow – a soft, spongy tissue at the centre of certain bones – and can produce all essential blood cells, including red and white cells and platelets. Stem cell transplants are used to treat a number of diseases, including some forms of cancer.

When a patient needs a transplant, a global database, or registry, of people who have agreed to donate is searched to find a person who has a matching tissue type, which can be quite rare.

Nicola's story

Nicola Rouse, 44, a Black heritage mum of two, biomedical scientist and lecturer in haematology and transfusion, donated her stem cells to a stranger in November 2024. She said:

"I signed up to the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry at one of my routine blood donation appointments and got the phone call telling me I was a match 21 years later! It was an incredible feeling to know that I could be the only person to help this specific patient and it made me so proud for having made the decision to join the register.

"Signing up was incredibly easy – as was the donation itself, which isn't dissimilar to giving blood. I'd encourage everybody, especially those of Black, Asian or mixed heritage to register as a potential stem cell donor. The fact that by doing such a small thing, you can help somebody in such an extraordinarily life-changing way is indescribable."

Andre and Ajahne's story

Andre and Ajahne standing side by side while Andre takes a selfie Andre Dorset, a 53-year-old father of two from Yarm, North Yorkshire is of Black heritage and did not have a match on the global registries when he needed a stem cell transplant to treat cancer. He said: "When I was diagnosed with T-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma my world was turned upside down. I had an autologous stem cell transplant, which is where they use my own stem cells, but I relapsed less than a year later and then needed to find a donor for a second transplant.

"Sadly, there was nobody registered who was a match, which was really quite frightening. I was facing not being able to see my children grow up, which isn't something any parent should have to think about. Thankfully, my family was being tested at the same time and it was found that Ajahne, my daughter, was a half match and suitable to be my donor." (3)

Ajahne, who had just turned 16, went on to donate her stem cells in 2019, saving her father's life.

Ajahne lying on a hospital bed, donating her stem cells Ajahne Dorset, now 22 years old and studying biomedical science, said: "My dad relapsing was so scary – the thought of not having him around as I grew up was terrifying. So, when I was asked if I would potentially donate my stem cells to him, it was an immediate yes. Knowing that I had a chance to be able to keep him with us and to spend hopefully many more years with him was incredible and really, such an honour.

"There's a real lack of awareness in ethnic minority communities about stem cell donation, and how desperately patients like my dad need donors of a similar heritage. Dad didn't have a match on the registries and we were lucky that I was enough of a match for the medics to think it had a chance of working – but not everybody will be as lucky as we were.

"If more people knew they could save someone's life with something relatively simple, I think they would step forward. All you need to do is sign up, it's so easy! Just by doing that, you're giving more people a chance at survival. And if you do get asked to donate, that's easy, too – it's really similar to giving blood and just takes a few hours."

Andre adds: "There's no way to describe what it feels like knowing your child has saved your life. I can never repay her – she's given me the chance to watch both of my children grow up and that is invaluable. Thank you isn't enough.

"I'm lucky Ajahne could be my donor – there's no guarantee that your family can step in like that and if she hadn't been able to help me, I likely wouldn't be here now. Of all the people across the world that are signed up to be potential stem cell donors, not a one was a suitable match for me. Not one. And that's why we really do need as many people as possible, from all ethnicities, to sign up and say 'if somebody needs me, I'll donate'. You could be someone's last hope."

Statements

Statement from Guy Parkes

Guy Parkes, Head of Stem Cell Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said:

"While we're encouraged by the number of people from ethnic minority backgrounds choosing to register as donors, the reality is that if you're a patient from a Black, Asian or mixed heritage background, your chances of finding a life-saving match remain significantly lower than for Caucasian patients.

"The genetics behind matching stem cell donors with patients is incredibly complex, and heritage plays a crucial role. Having a more diverse register that better reflects our population is essential to giving every patient an equal chance at finding their match.

"Registering to be a potential stem cell donor through the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry is simple – it's an extra blood sample at your routine blood donation - and once you’re signed up, there's nothing else to do, unless you’re found as a match - which is rare. Most donors on the register will never be contacted, so if you do get the call, you're one of the lucky ones who may get the opportunity to save someone's life."

Statement from Erin Hurst

Erin Hurst, consultant haematologist in the Northern Centre for Cancer Care at the Freeman Hospital, part of Newcastle Hospitals, said:

"It is encouraging to hear that the numbers of minority ethnicity stem cell donors is at a high - but there's still a long way to go until patients of Black or Asian heritage, or of mixed ethnicity can find matches as regularly as Caucasian patients can.

"There was no match on the register for Andre, which could have meant the end of the treatment options available to him. Thankfully, our research led scientific advances mean that we can now safely perform transplants from half match family members - and Ajahne was a suitable match for her dad, who went on to receive a life-saving transplant here at Newcastle Hospitals, thanks to her donation.

"We introduced transplantation from half matched donors, known as haplo donors, at our transplant centre in 2016 as part of a collaborative national clinical trial. This research developed our expertise and we now have one of the largest haplo transplantation programmes in the UK.

"Andre was one of the first patients in our centre to benefit from this type of transplant once the trial ended and we are delighted that the transplant was successful in curing his lymphoma and he has returned to his normal life with his family.

"However, not every patient will have this option available to them and a fully matched donor is still the preferred treatment option for most. For that reason, we would encourage people from all ethnicities to register as potential donors - it's a very simple step to take but could save somebody's life."

Statement from Melissa Harvey

Melissa Harvey, Donor Recruitment Development Officer at the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT), says:

"It's inspiring to see stem cell donations from Black, Asian and mixed heritage communities reach a 10-year high - progress like this reflects the tireless work of grassroots organisations like the ACLT and the work of the UK stem cell registries to diversify the donor base.
"For 30 years we have been raising awareness and encouraging people of Black, mixed heritage and ethnic minority backgrounds to sign up to the stem cell (bone marrow) register.

"However, we know all too well that there's a long way to go. Patients from ethnic minority backgrounds still face significant barriers to finding a match and the urgency remains for us to keep diversifying the registers by recruiting more donors.

"At ACLT, we believe that no one should die waiting for a donor to become available - that's why we continue to work closely within communities to educate, empower and recruit more lifesaving donors. Every registration has the potential to save a life. We strongly urge all blood donors to consider joining the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry."

Statement from Ashley Dalton

Health Minister Ashley Dalton, said:

"This is promising progress and a step in the right direction to tackle health inequalities. However, people of Black or Asian heritage and other ethnic minority backgrounds still find it significantly harder to find a life-saving match compared to white patients. This is unacceptable and we are determined to change that.

"The NHS is still in urgent need of stem cell donors from ethnic minority backgrounds and I encourage people to come forward – your actions could save a life. Thank you to NHSBT and charities for your crucial work."

How you can help

All blood, platelet and plasma donors aged 17 to 40 should ask about joining the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry at the start of their next appointment. If you're unable to donate blood and interested in joining a stem cell registry, enquire with Anthony Nolan or DKMS.

Find out more about joining the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry and the donation process.

Press release notes

According to data taken from the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry, there were 24 donations by Black, Asian and mixed ethnicity donors in 2024/2025, up from 11 in 2015/2016
The number of people from ethnic minority backgrounds signed up to the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry has increased from just 18,670 in 2015/2016 to 46,848 in 2024/2025
A half matched, or haploidentical, transplant replaces unhealthy blood cells with healthy stem cells, in much the same way as a regular stem cell transplant. It will usually come from a family donor, meaning it can have more minor tissue matches and similar environmental exposures, which can be important for infectious complications. The transplant is performed differently to matched transplants in order to reduce the risk of graft versus host disease and the best transplant option remains a fully matched donor