The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) is actively expanding its stem cell donor registration drives across both the United States and India to boost the pool of compatible donors for patients of South Asian and Indian descent. Launched in partnership with international registries such as the Deutsche Knochenmarkspenderdatei (DKMS) and the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), the campaign addresses severe matching disparities. Because Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) markers are inherited and strictly ethnicity-specific, patients suffering from blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma frequently struggle to find matching donors due to the historically limited representation of South Asian profiles in global registries.
Nationwide Mobilization and Global Outreach:
AAPI President Dr. Meher Medavaram emphasized that the initiative directly bridges a critical gap in cancer care, while Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Vijay Maurya noted that roughly 70 percent of patients lack a family match. Initiated in November 2024, the campaign has expanded into dozens of American cities including Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Charlotte, and Edison frequently organized through the leadership of high school and college students. Coordinated via the “AAPI Stem Cell Drive” platform managed by Dr. Sashi Kuppala, the effort allows prospective donors to register online and receive simple cheek-swab kits. Furthermore, the mission has scaled internationally to India through collaborations with the Global Association of Indian Medical Students and DATRI, India’s largest registry, extending drives to medical campuses nationwide.
