MOBILIZING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FOR BONE MARROW DONATION IN RIO GRANDE DO SUL, BRAZIL: LESSONS FROM AN ACADEMIC LEAGUE INITIATIVE

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) is, in many cases, the only therapeutic alternative for severe hematologic and neoplastic diseases. In Brazil, the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry (REDOME) is the third-largest database of volunteer donors worldwide. However, the probability of HLA compatibility between unrelated individuals can be lower than 0.001%, leaving around 650 patients currently awaiting a compatible donor. The low proportion of the population registered (2.94%) and the high genetic diversity of the Brazilian population, resulting from centuries of admixture, underscore the need to expand and diversify the registry. This challenge is further compounded by the underrepresentation of certain racial and ethnic groups, particularly individuals of African and Indigenous descent, whose HLA profiles are less frequent in the registry, reducing their likelihood of finding a match. The university student population is a strategic target, as it encompasses young individuals (18–35 years old) who can remain active in the registry for longer and act as multipliers of information. To report and analyze the outcomes of three bone marrow donor recruitment campaigns conducted in a university setting, coordinated by Liga do Sangue (LiSan) in partnership with the Transplant Immunology Department of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA). Three campaigns were held (April and November 2023; March 2025). The first stage focused on awareness activities, including Instagram posts by LiSan , the “4 th Lecture Series on Bone Marrow ”, and distribution of leaflets on campus. The second stage consisted of donor recruitment, on the UFCSPA campus, with students assisting in donor orientation, blood sample collection, and obtaining informed consent. The model combined digital outreach, face-to-face education, and on-site recruitment, with low cost and high potential for replication. A total of 228, 170, and 238 volunteers were registered in the three campaigns, respectively, totaling 636 new entries in REDOME. This represents 14% of the total UFCSPA student body or 20% of undergraduate students. This figure constitutes a significant increase compared with isolated campaigns reported in literature. The decrease in registrations in the second campaign, held within the same year as the first, may be related to temporal overlap and stability of the target audience. Nevertheless, adherence remained relevant, possibly supported by the recent memory of the previous campaign. In 2024, no campaign was held due to the climate disaster that affected Rio Grande do Sul. The third campaign showed an increase in registrations, likely associated with the longer interval between actions, allowing engagement of new groups. Beyond numerical growth, these campaigns addressed the underrepresentation of specific racial and ethnic groups in REDOME, contributing to greater equity in transplant access. Additionally, they served as a health education tool, demystifying the donation process and fostering a culture of solidarity among young adults. Therefore, the LiSan campaigns had a positive impact on donor recruitment and awareness, contributing to the expansion and diversification of REDOME. Maintaining annual editions and extending the initiative to other higher education institutions may enhance results and increase the likelihood of finding compatible donors, benefiting patients throughout Brazil.