What is a bone marrow transplant?
Bone marrow transplantation is a medical procedure used to treat dozens of illnesses - different types of cancers, aplastic anemia, immune deficiency disorders, and numerous genetic diseases. For many patients, a bone marrow transplant from a genetically-compatible donor offers the patient the only chance for survival.

What is a bone marrow donor registry?
Patients and donors must share common inherited genetic factors. Fewer than 30% of the patients find donors among their siblings. Others must seek an unrelated stem cell donor in bone marrow donor registries around the world

What is the process?
When a match is sought for a person in need of a stem cell transplant, the cheek swabs or blood samples at Ezer Mizion's Registry are checked to find a genetically matching donor for the patient. Further blood testing reveals whether there is a complete match so that a stem cell transplant can take place. 

Why is a cheek swab or blood sample required?
A small blood sample or cheek (buccal) swab is taken to determine tissue type when the potential stem cell donor joins the Registry. The sample is laboratory tested and the data is stored at Ezer Mizion's Registry where the donor data is constantly being searched to find matching stem cell donors for patients all over the world.

Why is a Jewish bone marrow registry necessary?
The chances of finding a matching non-related bone marrow donor are only about 1 in 30,000. As a unique ethnic group, Jews comprise only a minute fraction of potential bone marrow donors in international bone marrow registries. This significantly reduces the likelihood of finding a donor. A Jewish bone marrow registry greatly enhances the chances of finding a donor for Jewish patients.

Why do you make donor recruitment drives?
To enlarge the Registry. The more potential stem cell donors we have, the better the chances are to find a match that will save a sick person's life.

What is the importance of Ezer Mizion's Registry?  
Ezer Mizion's Bone Marrow Donor Registry, is the largest Jewish registry in the world today. Since its establishment, Ezer Mizion's Registry has made thousands of complete stem cell donor/patient matches and facilitated hundreds of life-saving transplants in transplant centers across the globe.  

A Lifesaving Partnership
In 2005 Ezer Mizion entered a partnership with the Israel Defense Forces, where every IDF recruit is offered the opportunity to join the Registry upon induction. The recruits who are young and healthy, are optimal potential stem cell donors: The success rate of matches with IDF soldiers is significantly greater than the world's average. This is attributed to the ethnic diversity of the recruits who come from represent a wide range of Jewish genetic stocks.

What is Ezer Mizion's relationship with transplant centers around the world?
Ezer Mizion's Registry is affiliated with the International Bone Marrow Registry based in Leyden, Holland and works with transplant centers in over 40 countries throughout the world. It is a cooperative registry of the National Marrow Donor Program, the largest registry in the United States, a fact that will make it possible to respond to requests by a greater number of people. Every month, the Registry receives scores of requests for donor searches from transplant centers and is instrumental in saving lives internationally.

Why should I join the Registry?
Because you may be found to be a match for a cancer patient anywhere in the world and your small effort to donate stem cells can save someone's life.

What if I can't join Ezer Mizion's Registry?
If you are unable to join Ezer Mizion's Registry, you can still ensure the success of the donor recruitment drives by funding the cost of tissue typing others that join the Registry. Cost of lab testing for each sample is $65/ £42 / ₪ 250. We need your help to fund this vital undertaking.