Journal of Blood Disorders & Transfusion

Stem cell transplantation: Donors as research objects, the donor search process and beyond

16^th World Hematology Congress

March 18-19, 2019 | Rome, Italy

Susanne Morsch

Stefan-Morsch-Stiftung, Germany

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Blood Disord Transfus

Abstract:

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has become an established therapy in the treatment of patients with a range of hematological and non-hematological disorders. The number of allogeneic stem cell transplants increases every year. The risks and options for the stem cell recipients are well defined and documented and transplant physicians are well aware of the procedures in their facility. Physiological and psychological factors for the recipient are part of the daily routine. In contrast to the situation for the recipients, hematopoietic stem cell donation is often considered a relatively safe procedure for the donor and the physiological and psychological impact on the donor is not the focus of the transplant physician. When donors are included in studies and become research objects the process gets even more complicated. The knowledge and understanding about the obstacles and challenges of all the parties involved in stem cell donation are fundamental for the success of the allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We believe it is necessary to create an understanding in the clinical community and the impact of the stem cell donation has on the donors and how important the exchange of information is with regard to preserving donor commitment and availability.

Recent Publications

1. Morsch S (2015) Proud. In: Sharing life: inspiring stories of transplant patients and their lifesaving heroes. Leiden: World Marrow Donor Association.

2. Punzel M, Bogolepov V, Fisher R, Harper C, Liu A, Liu S, Morsch S and Wiegand T (2014) Chapter 4. In: A gift for life; WMDA handbook for blood stem cell donation, 1st ed. Leiden: World Marrow Donor Association.

Biography :

Susanne Morsch is the CEO of the Stefan-Morsch-Stiftung, a charitable non-profit foundation that established Germany’s first unrelated stem cell donor registry in 1986 which has more than 450000 donors in 2018. For more than 30 years, the foundation has been working with transplant physicians sharing the experience in donor and patient support. She is a Certified Hematopoietic Transplant Coordinator (CHTC) with more than 15 years of experience in the search for unrelated stem cell donors. She has built the foundation’s International Search Center to help transplant centers around the globe to identify the best matched unrelated donors for their patients in the worldwide database. In addition, she holds a Degree in Social Economics - Sozialwirtin (FH) and is Member of the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) and the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT).

E-mail: susanne.morsch@stefan-morsch-stiftung.com