Saving lives through awareness, action and community
The University of Washington is proud to partner with National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), formerly known as Be The Match, to help save lives through blood stem cell and bone marrow donation. Through The Whole U this partnership is brought to life connecting students, faculty and staff to education, engagement opportunities and meaningful ways to take action.
By coordinating campus-wide events, collaborating with UW Athletics and health partners and amplifying stories of impact, The Whole U helps ensure this life-saving work reaches the UW community in inclusive, accessible and inspiring ways.
About the partnership
Led on campus by The Whole U, UW’s partnership with NMDP focuses on education, awareness and action, helping people understand how donation works and why donor diversity matters. NMDP is a global nonprofit leader in cell therapy, connecting patients with blood cancers and other serious diseases to potential life-saving donors through the world’s most diverse marrow registry.
This work aligns closely with UW’s population health and equity priorities. Research shows that younger donors (ages 18–35) lead to better transplant outcomes, and patients are more likely to find a match from someone with a similar ethnic background. Through intentional outreach and community-centered programming, The Whole U helps advance health equity by encouraging participation from people of color and those with mixed ancestry, groups historically underrepresented in donor registries.
Why UW?
UW’s involvement in this work is rooted in both scientific leadership and human impact. Research and treatment conducted in collaboration with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, including some of the earliest marrow transplants, helped lay the foundation for today’s donor registries.
Building on this legacy, The Whole U brings together UW Athletics, UW Medicine experts, students, faculty and staff to expand awareness and participation. The partnership is also deeply personal to the UW community, championed by UW Regent and Sociology Professor Alexes Harris, whose experience as a blood cancer survivor underscores the urgency and importance of growing a diverse registry.
Get involved
The Whole U coordinates and promotes multiple ways for the UW community to engage with NMDP throughout the year, making it easy to learn more and take action.
Join the donor registry
Registering is simple and noninvasive. Most potential donors complete their registration with a cheek swab mailed to their home.
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Visit: join.nmdp.org/UW
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Text: UWSAVES to 61474
Attend campus events
Through The Whole U’s programming, UW hosts donor registration and awareness events that bring together wellness, athletics, and community impact—creating welcoming spaces to learn, ask questions, and join the registry alongside peers.
Support through giving
The Whole U also helps connect employees to opportunities to support NMDP through the UW Combined Fund Drive, offering simple payroll deduction options to advance research, patient support, and access to treatment.
Get in the Game
Each spring, The Whole U leads and coordinates Get in the Game, a high-energy campus event hosted in partnership with UW Athletics and NMDP.
Held on Red Square, this signature event brings students, faculty, and staff together to:
- Learn about bone marrow and stem cell donation
- Join the NMDP registry on site
- Meet UW coaches, athletes, and Dubs
- Celebrate collective action with music, swag, and Husky spirit
Get in the Game has helped register more than 500 potential donors, with strong participation from ethnically diverse communities, directly contributing to improved access and equity in life-saving treatment.
Together, we save lives
Whether you join the registry, attend Get in the Game or support NMDP through giving, you’re helping extend lives, strengthen community and advance UW’s commitment to equity and well-being.
