In brief
Published on 22 April 2025
In some cases, serious blood diseases such as leukemia require the use of a stem cell transplant, also known as a bone marrow transplant, to manage the patient. Such transplants are only possible when people volunteer to donate, and a donor is found who is compatible with the patient. The Agence de la biomédecine runs the French Bone Marrow Donor Registry, and liaises with other donor registries around the world. It oversees, coordinates and supports all activities relating to bone marrow donation, procurement and transplantation in France.
Manage and coordinate activities
The Agence de la biomédecine issues business authorizations to establishments involved in bone marrow donation and transplantation, and establishes funding arrangements in its role as the public body responsible for implementing this national policy, in accordance with the French bioethics laws. It coordinates bone marrow collection and transplantation operations throughout France, manages the national registry of voluntary bone marrow donors and its interconnection with all the donor registries available worldwide, in compliance with World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) standards, as well as the IT applications required to carry out these activities. The Agency also supports medical and scientific research in this field, notably through the annual funding of selected projects.
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Guaranteeing the quality and safety of practices
The Agency monitors, controls and evaluates activities related to donation and transplantation. It coordinates the biovigilance system responsible for detecting and monitoring serious incidents and adverse events, and draws up recommendations for professionals. Each year, it collects, consolidates and analyzes activity data, to produce monitoring and performance indicators designed to guide national strategies and orient professional practices. These data are published in publications and reports, including the Medical and Scientific Report.
Promoting bone marrow donation to recruit donors
Recruiting new donors is one of the Agence de la biomédecine's key missions. Every year, several thousand people are registered on the national registry, thanks to targeted and innovative communication initiatives, particularly aimed at young people. Based on survey data, sociological studies and rigorous evaluations, targeted communication initiatives mobilize all channels - press, social networks, posters, radio, events, etc. - to inform, encourage and direct volunteers to the dondemoelle.fr registration site.The Agency carries out these actions in close collaboration with donation centers, healthcare establishments, learned societies, patient associations and its institutional partners.
In this section, you'll find key figures, publications, actions and tools to support bone marrow donation and transplantation in France.
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