Mission statement                            

“To increase the number of registrants of Chinese origin in the stem cell registry worldwide.”

Why we need YOU…
Currently, there are at least 20 patients of Chinese origin in Canada urgently waiting for unrelated stem cell (bone marrow) donors. 

Caucasian patients needing stem cell transplants have about an 80% chance of finding unrelated matched donors.  However, Chinese patients have a 10% chance of finding that donor.  This means that 90% of those patients die while waiting for a donor for stem cell transplant. 

The reason for this is that Chinese are very under represented in the global stem cell registry.  Did you know that out of the 13 million registered donors in the Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide database, less than 500,000 (<4%) are of Chinese origin?  Canada’s stem cell donor database is 82 % Caucasian and only 1.4% Chinese. 

Stem cell transplants are able to treat not only patients with blood cancers but also other types of conditions.  But with the Chinese donor pool so small, Chinese patients who can be saved with stem cell transplants are facing a near hopeless situation. 

OtherHalf—Chinese Stem Cell Initiative is a non-profit organization which was started by a group of concerned Chinese Canadians who would like to help increase the number of registrants of Chinese origin in the stem cell registry.  In collaboration with OneMatch, a member of the global stem cell network, we are conducting stem cell drives and sustained awareness campaigns to deflect myths and educate the public about stem cell donation.  

It is our hope that the Chinese community will champion this initiative and encourage as many Chinese Canadians as possible to register as stem cell donors with OneMatch.  

Just think how good you would feel if you could save a life….  BE THE ONE!