Recipient: NMDP 

Representing NMDP: Amy Ronneberg, MBA, CEO of NMDP

About NMDP: For nearly four decades, NMDP has reimagined transplantation science, advancing clinical research and expanding access to life-saving cell therapy. Partnering across the ecosystem with the World Marrow Donor Association (WDMA) and the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT^®), NMDP advances innovation via its research collaboration with the Medical College of Wisconsin, Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR^®), to improve outcomes and ensure all patients can access transplant. The organization’s research, investments, programs, services and people have impacted more than 140,000 patients since 1987.

What does this award mean to NMDP?

“This award is a profound affirmation of NMDP’s patient-centric mission and the dedicated people powering our organization, employees, patients, donors and partners. It also shines a light on the strong partnerships we have across the transplantation ecosystem — from the WMDA and ASTCT to cooperative registries, industry, transplant centers and congressional advocates.”

How do you hope NMDP’s work has most influenced the field?          

“I hope NMDP’s greatest influence has been showing how a rigorous commitment to research that advances clinical practice and patient care can also expand access to cell therapy for all patients. There is no better way to honor the patients we serve than to continually discover new, evidence-based ways to expand donor availability, improve clinical outcomes and pave the way for new standards of care — especially for patients who historically lacked fully matched donors.”

Of the approximately 140,000 patients that NMDP has assisted, what stories have you found most inspiring?

“The stories that stay with me are the ones where patients overcome that first moment of what is always a gut-wrenching diagnosis to realize that they have wellsprings of resiliency where they thought they had none. And this newfound resiliency turns into momentum in the journey from diagnosis to transplant to recovery.”

Can you outline the importance of international connections to the work of NMDP?

“Our cooperative registries, national and global scientific organizations and the WMDA are truly the lifeblood of our global operation — without them, we could not succeed. About half of the transplants we facilitate are international, and we rely on a highly sophisticated and trusted set of partners to ensure we never miss a delivery of these life-saving cells.

“Pragmatically speaking, advancing patient access to cell therapy is inherently a global operation — as donors, partner centers, registries and research come from all over the world to serve patients. Through partnerships with international registries, transplant centers and organizations such as ASTCT and the WMDA, we align on shared standards and strengthen system resilience.

“These relationships proved critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, when we worked with federal and global partners to ensure over 2,000 international patients could still receive their lifesaving transplant despite differing travel restrictions, regulations and clinical requirements.

“Our ongoing U.S. and global efforts, including the growth of the NMDP Mexico registry, reflect our commitment to building a transplant network that serves all patients — no matter where they live.”  

The ASTCT Public Service Award is presented at each year’s Tandem Meetings. The award recognizes an organization or individual outside of the ASTCT membership who has advanced the interests of blood and marrow transplantation or given special service to the patients and families that ASTCT serves. Visit ASTCT’s website for more information and a list of past recipients.