Anthony Nolan

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Anthony Nolan is a UK-based charity that works in the areas of leukemia and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The organization manages and recruits donors to the Anthony Nolan Register, a database of potential bone marrow and stem cell donors. It also conducts research to improve the success and outcomes of transplants.

History

The charity was founded in 1974 by Shirley Nolan, the mother of Anthony Nolan, who was born with a rare condition called Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. At the time, there was no centralized register of potential bone marrow donors, making it difficult to find matches for patients in need of transplants. Shirley Nolan established the Anthony Nolan Register to address this gap.

Mission

Anthony Nolan's mission is to save the lives of people with blood cancer and blood disorders. The charity achieves this by:

• Recruiting potential donors to the Anthony Nolan Register.
• Conducting research to improve the outcomes of stem cell transplants.
• Providing support and information to patients and their families.

The Anthony Nolan Register

The Anthony Nolan Register is a database of potential stem cell donors. Individuals between the ages of 16 and 30 can join the register by providing a saliva sample, which is then analyzed to determine their human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type. This information is used to match donors with patients in need of a transplant.

Research

Anthony Nolan conducts and funds research to improve the success rates of stem cell transplants. The charity's research focuses on areas such as:

• Improving donor matching techniques.
• Reducing the risk of graft-versus-host disease.
• Enhancing the effectiveness of transplants for patients with different types of blood cancer and blood disorders.

Support Services

Anthony Nolan provides a range of support services for patients and their families, including:

• Information and advice on the transplant process.
• Emotional support and counseling.
• Financial assistance for patients undergoing treatment.

Fundraising

As a charity, Anthony Nolan relies on donations and fundraising activities to support its work. The organization runs various fundraising campaigns and events throughout the year, encouraging individuals and communities to get involved and support their mission.

See Also

• Leukemia
• Bone marrow
• Stem cell transplantation
• Human leukocyte antigen
• Graft-versus-host disease