Together Against Blood Cancer: Scoolio Meets DKMS

Since spring, Scoolio and FuturePlan have been supporting the German Bone Marrow Donor Center (DKMS). Our shared goal is to raise awareness among Generation Z and recruit new donors, because every donation counts, and everyone can help!

Antonia (DKMS) and Danny (Scoolio) during an interview in Berlin

On the website https://www.dkms.de/aktiv-werden/online-aktionen/scoolio young people have the opportunity to register with DKMS and receive test kits at home.

We visited Antonia Lukas from DKMS Donor Center GmbH in Berlin and asked for an interview. Read here what she had to say about online registration, typing, and stem cell donation.

Who can register as a potential stem cell donor with DKMS?

Antonia Lukas: Anyone between 17 and 55 years old and in good health can register with DKMS. Registered 17-year-olds cannot yet donate stem cells, but they are automatically activated and considered for donor searches once they turn 18. The engagement of young adults is particularly important for medical reasons. They are generally healthier, have fewer pre-existing conditions (e.g., severe cardiovascular diseases, chronic illnesses) than older people, and are more frequently requested by treating physicians for stem cell donation. Additionally, the younger a person is at the time of registration, the longer they are available in the global search for donors. This is crucial for maintaining the database, as more than 100,000 donors leave the registry each year due to age.

How does online registration work?

Antonia Lukas: It’s simple and quick! Interested individuals can order a registration kit via www.dkms.de or a specific campaign registration link. The consent form is completed directly via an online form. After receiving the three swabs, a cheek swab is taken at home. The signed consent form and swabs are then returned to the designated laboratory by mail. In just a few minutes, the first step is taken toward potentially saving a life.

DKMS Registration Kit

Why are financial donations also important?

Antonia Lukas: Each registration and subsequent typing of the tissue sample incurs costs for DKMS (e.g., laboratory, materials, logistics, personnel) amounting to €40. Health insurance companies do not cover these costs, which is why we appreciate every financial donation.

What does "typing" actually mean, and what happens to my data?

Antonia Lukas: Typing determines tissue characteristics, known as Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA). These are structures on the surface of cells that help the immune system distinguish between self and foreign tissues. A successful transplantation depends on the match between donor and recipient tissue characteristics. Our laboratory determines 22 tissue characteristics, significantly improving the chances of finding an optimal donor. The results are then pseudonymized and made available in national and international registries for worldwide donor searches.

What happens if I am identified as a potential donor for a patient?

Antonia Lukas: If you are identified as a genetic match for a patient, it’s time to decide if you are willing to donate. If you agree, additional confirmatory typing and a medical pre-examination are conducted.

DKMS Registration

Watch a short video of our conversation with Antonia Lukas here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6HDyykFfZc

Our collaboration with DKMS continues. If you’d like to support us, you can register at any time via this link:
https://www.dkms.de/aktiv-werden/online-aktionen/scoolio

EVERY donation counts!