For the first time, white women aged 17-40 are now eligible to donate stem cells on the NHS.
Previously, only men aged 17-40 and women within the same age range who are of Asian or Black heritage or other mixed ethnicity were eligible to donate.
The change has been made because growing evidence has shown that age, rather than sex, is a more significant factor in the health and efficacy of stem cells. Younger donors see better transplant outcomes.
Thus, NHS Blood and Transplant is calling on people to join its Stem Cell Donor Registry in light of Stem Cell Awareness Day, which took place on 9 October with an aim to educate the public about stem cell research and its potential to revolutionise medicine.
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