AAPI's National Stem Cell Donor Drive Gains Momentum as Youth-Led Movement Expands Across U.S. and India
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Los Angeles/ Sept 23, 2026
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh
The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) is spearheading an
unprecedented national effort to address a longstanding gap in lifesaving stem cell donor
availability for patients of South Asian descent. Through a coordinated campaign launched in
partnership with the Deutsche Knochenmarkspenderdatei (DKMS) and National Marrow Donor
Program (NMDP) international stem cell registries, AAPI has transformed what were once
isolated community donor drives into a unified nationwide movement aimed at increasing
representation within the stem cell registry.
According to Dr. Meher Medavaram, President of AAPI, the initiative targets a critical
healthcare disparity faced by Indian Americans battling blood cancers such as leukemia and
lymphoma. "This noble and life saving initiative by AAPI addresses a critical gap in cancer
treatment options for patients of Indian descent, who face significant challenges in finding
compatible donors due to ethnicity-specific Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) matching.”
Addressing a Critical Need
Medical experts emphasize that stem cell transplantation remains a vital treatment option for
many blood cancers. However, donor compatibility depends heavily on HLA markers, which are
inherited and often closely linked to ethnic background. As a result, patients of Indian ancestry
have a higher likelihood of finding a match within their own ethnic community, yet the available
donor pool remains disproportionately small.
Highlighting the urgency of the effort, AAPI Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Vijay Maurya, stated, "Stem Donor Drive is an urgent need, impacting the people of South Asian descent more than
any other community in the world. Seventy percent of patients lack a family match. For Indians,
the odds are even lower due to the limited donor pool."
Youth-Led Mobilization Across America
Initiated during the Presidency of Dr. Satheesh Kathula in November 2024, AAPI has organized
donor registration drives in more than several dozens of cities across the United States, including
Atlanta, Chicago, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Scranton, Pittsburgh, San Diego,
Sacramento, San Jose, Charlotte, Edison, Memphis, Nashville, Roanoke, Sunnyvale, Milwaukee
and others. Most of these events have been organized and led by high school and college
students, creating what AAPI leaders describe as a powerful youth-led movement committed to
community service and public health.
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The campaign's operational hub is a nationwide volunteer network coordinated through the "AAPI Stem Cell Drive" platform established by Dr. Sashi Kuppala, Chair of the initiative. The
network connects physicians, students, volunteers and community leaders who share event
updates, registration milestones and outreach strategies.
Explaining the scientific foundation behind the campaign, Dr. Sashi Kuppala said, "Matching
donors is based on HLA typing, which is inherited and ethnicity-specific. Thousands of patients
rely on transplants to survive."
“The campaign’s rapid growth is visible not only in national reports but also in the active social
media coordination hub where AAPI leaders and volunteers communicate daily,” said Dr. Arathi
Shah, Vice-Chair of the AAPI Stem cell Drive. “This digital ecosystem has become the
movement’s nerve center, reflecting the urgency, compassion, and coordination driving the
initiative forward. The updates, accompanied by photos and messages of encouragement,
illustrate how the movement has spread organically—city by city, campus by campus, family by
family. When I connect with the youth volunteers weekly, I hear about the feelings of gratitude
and fulfillment prioritizing their precious resource: time for life-impacting work like this. We
have taken it one step further through innovative clinical research projects locally pioneered by
youth under the guidance of PhD & MD mentors, for example in my region Austin, Texas.” she
stated.
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According to Dr. Sashi Kuppala, the digital eco-system has become the beating heart of the
campaign, functioning as a real-time coordination hub where volunteers share updates, celebrate
milestones, and mobilize new drives. He called it “a real-time coordination hub where
volunteers share updates, celebrate milestones, and mobilize new drives.”
The group’s daily activity—from reminders to encouragement to logistical
coordination—reveals a community united by intention and compassion. One volunteer
described attending a drive as “standing in the gap between life and loss,” while another shared
that watching a young mother register “was a moment that stays with you.” These paradigm-
shifting activities and reflections underscore the human stakes behind the statistics.
Leadership Calls for Action
Current AAPI leadership has consistently stressed both the humanitarian and practical importance of donor registration.
Dr. Krishan Kumar, AAPI President-Elect underscored the potentially lifesaving impact of a
single donor registration. "You could be someone's only match, their only hope. Registering is a
serious promise, but the donation process is safe and complication-free," she said.
AAPI Vice President Dr. Sreeni Ganagasani praised the nationwide volunteer effort, stating, "I'm thankful to our local AAPI chapter leaders, members and volunteers across the nation who
have initiated and are spearheading the Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Registration drives."
Dr. Soumya Nerevetla, AAPI Secretary, echoed that concern, emphasizing the importance of
broad community participation. "Finding a match is especially difficult for South Asians. Every
donor helps save lives," he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Raghu Lolabhat emphasized the simplicity of participation, noting that
prospective donors can register by completing an online form and returning a cheek-swab kit for
HLA testing. "Registration is simple. Scan the QR code, fill out your details, and return the
cheek swab kit. Your HLA data will be stored securely," he said.
Expanding the Mission to India
Building on its success in the United States, expanded the stem cell donor campaign to India
under the leadership of AAPI Immediate Past President Dr. Amit Chakrabarty. Working
alongside the Global Association of Indian Medical Students and DATRI, India's largest stem
cell registry, the organization launched major donor drives during the Global Health Summit in
Bhubaneswar, Odisha, in January 2026, and expanding to medical schools nationwide.
A Movement Beyond Medicine
This unified effort addresses “a critical gap in cancer treatment options for patients of Indian
descent, who face significant challenges in finding compatible donors due to ethnicity-specific
Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) matching,” said Dr. Meher Medavaram.
AAPI leaders describe the donor drive as more than a healthcare initiative. They view it as a
growing movement centered on science, service and community solidarity. By bringing together
physicians, students and volunteers under a common mission, the organization hopes to
dramatically increase stem cell donor representation for Indian and South Asian patients
worldwide and improve access to lifesaving matches for future generations.
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