15 April 2024

The Verein für Knochenmark- und Stammzellspende e.V. (VKS) is holding a typing campaign at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences on 17.04.2024.

Mika from Nordhausen is only 16 years old and yet he has just received a serious diagnosis: Leukaemia. The shock is huge for him and his family. From one day to the next, he had to go into hospital last week. He is currently receiving chemotherapy. "We don't even know where our heads are at the moment," says Mika's dad Daniel. But the family is sticking together and staying strong.

Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences would like to help and has organised a typing campaign for Mika together with the stem cell donor centre VKS. On 17.04.2024 between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm are now being Audimax Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences are looking for students to register as stem cell donors. Registration takes just a few minutes and involves a simple cheek swab.

Stem cell donation is an unrivalled example of making the seemingly impossible possible by helping each other, and that is the mission of VKS. Today, 9 out of 10 people in Germany find the perfect match - an incredible success. But as long as people around the world are seriously ill with blood cancer, the VKS team will not take a break. They are typing as many donors as possible, thereby increasing the chance of a cure for blood cancer sufferers every day. Their vision is that in future every person with blood cancer will find a suitable stem cell donor.   

In Germany, one person is diagnosed with blood cancer every 12 minutes. Blood cancer is the generic term for malignant diseases of the bone marrow or the haematopoietic system, in which normal blood formation is disrupted by the uncontrolled proliferation of malignant blood cells - such as leukaemia. Because of these cancer cells, the blood can no longer fulfil its vital functions, such as fighting infections, transporting oxygen or stopping bleeding. If left untreated, these diseases almost always lead to death. However, every healthy person between the ages of 16 and 45 can help. People aged 16 and over can be activated for the worldwide search from the age of 18. Registration is free of charge and can also be done online.

Once the genetic twin has been found, the stem cells can be harvested. During a stem cell donation, a small proportion of the stem cells are filtered, usually from the bloodstream. The stem cells regenerate within a few weeks. The bag containing the stem cells is transferred to the genetic twin within 72 hours, which is no less than a second birthday. Stem cell donation is a great opportunity to help other people.

Detailed information can be found on the VKS homepage (www.vks-deutschland.de).

The Verein für Knochenmark- und Stammzellspende e.V. was founded in 1997 and, as a stem cell donor centre, is committed to raising awareness of blood cancer throughout Germany and finding suitable stem cell donors for those affected. The aim is to find new potential lifesavers.

The VKS e.V. is a partner of the Central Bone Marrow Donor Registry Germany (ZKRD) and a member of the German Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Donation Foundation (SKD).

Press contact VKS: Manda Stöckel | Tel. + 49 (0)351 563 776 818 | E-mail: | Association for Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Donations | Fetscherstr. 72 01307 Dresden