AAPI’s National Stem Cell Donor Drive Gains Momentum as Youth-Led Movement Expands Across U.S. and India

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.

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.

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.

For additional information, AAPI directs interested individuals and organizations to visit: www.aapiusa.org, and Visit: https://www.dkms.org/get-involved/virtual-drives/aapi