Interview with Igor Paramonov

The bone marrow and hematopoietic stem cells donation is a complex and important topic for promotion. Igor Vladimirovich Paramonov, MD and director of Kirov Research Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion of FMBA told us how to present this to the largest number of people, and how to fill the Federal Register of Potential Donors of Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Bone Marrow.

Please describe the work on a register of potential donors of hematopoietic stem cells and bone marrow.

Since 2020, FMBA Russia has been actively involved in the development of bone marrow donation and hematopoietic stem cells. As a result of joint work with the Russian Ministry of Health, the normative legal framework was updated in 2022.

The activity of the register started on September 1, 2022, FMBA of Russia developed and put into operation a new state information system. The authority of the system operator was divided between the leading institutions of the Russian Federation Federal Migration Service in the field of introduction of digital technologies and big data processing (Strategic Planning Center of the Russian Federal Migration Service) and oncohematology (Kirov Research Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion) which provide information and technological support for the full cycle of work on donation of bone marrow and hematopoietic stem cells.

The Federal Register provides a single window for finding a donor in Russia. This minimize the time required to obtain cellular material for clinics and increase the availability of high-tech medical assistance for bone marrow transplantation and hematopoietic stem cells for patients. The Federal Register includes the country’s medical organizations, which attract donors (recruitment centers), work with patients (transplant centers), cellular material (harvesting centers), as well as tissue typing laboratories. At present, the register contains information on 204 361 donors, who are typed and involved in the search for patients requiring an unrelated bone marrow transplant or hematopoietic stem cells.

The main result from the formation of the register of bone marrow donors is cell donation. Tell us about.

There are more than 270 preparations of bone marrow donor cells at present, in Kirov Research Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion of FMBA Russia. Not bone marrow is valuable for transplantation, but the cells that are the precursors to blood flow, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). HSCs are also present in peripheral blood in small amounts. They can be taken in two ways - directly from the bone marrow or from peripheral blood. The donor, after consultation with the doctor, can choose the type of procedure. The traditional source of HSCs for transplantation is bone marrow. It’s been used for over 30 years. The total time of the procedure, during which bone marrow is taken from the pelvic bones with special needles with wide lumen, is about 1.5-2 hours. All manipulations are performed under general anesthesia. At the same time, no more than 5% of the total bone marrow volume of the donor is taken. That’s enough to keep the patient’s hematopoiesis for life. The actual loss of bone marrow by the donor is almost non-existent and fully compensated within two weeks. If the source of hematopoietic stem cells is peripheral blood, the donor is undergoing a preparatory period - the introduction of a special drug that stimulates the release of stem hematopoietic cells into the bloodstream. On the fourth or fifth day, the donor undergoes an apheresis procedure that lasts for 3-5 hours per day, depending on the number of stem cells to be obtained. During this procedure, blood is extracted from the ulnar vein and passed through a special apparatus.

Donation is safe and does not have adverse health consequences. Complete recovery of the body is quite fast. However, it must be remembered that taking bone marrow is a responsible procedure, you need a careful and attentive approach, as with a surgery.

How are hematopoietic stem cell and bone marrow donors recruited?

The system of recruiting new donors has been modified nationwide, including through the Gosuslugi portal, and ensures access to entire Russian population. The possibility of applying for the Federal Register through the Gosuslugi in six months has attracted the attention of more than 31,000 users - potential donors. Today, the specialists of 113 blood service institutions regularly work with blood donors, both in-patient and on-site.

The annual potential of recruiting is 100,000 donors per year.

What are the most important questions and topics in bone marrow donation? What do you recommend to pay attention when planning promotion of bone marrow donation in the regions?

The most important thing is to provide participation in the topic of bone marrow donation and the development of the Federal Register in various forms. For some people, it is enough to get information. Someone has a desire to join the register, but the final decision has not been made – needs more information. Someone made a decision, but doesn’t know where to go. For the concerned audience it is necessary to give accurate and complete information, carefully direct.

Many people, hearing about the donation of stem cells (especially if we use the term «bone marrow»), are frightened. People have got the wrong idea about this procedure. How to dispel fears, refute myths?

Unfortunately, there is insufficient information about this type of donation in the Russian Federation. In many European countries, bone marrow donation issues are beginning to be discussed in schools, but not in our country. That is why it is important to conduct such information campaigns as the All-Russian action «Learn about bone marrow donation».

Quite often we introduce our audience to donors of bone marrow, healthy and full of strength, this example is always inspiring. There are many such donors today. We tell about people who have healed and live thanks to bone marrow donors. Of course, there are stories where the patient and his bone marrow donor meet a few years after the transplant. This is really touching. In fact, almost every person can save the life of another.

The All-Russian action «Learn about bone marrow donation» started in July. What are the goals of the action? Tell us about the planned events.

The All-Russian action «Learn about bone marrow donation» will be held until September 2023. This month we celebrate the World Bone Marrow Donor Day. All concerned citizen can participate.

The July advertising campaign is dedicated to «Find the genetic twin». The main message is that thousands of patients with various diseases are looking for their genetic twins as they need bone marrow transplants. For them, transplantation is the only way to defeat the disease. However, the chance of finding a donor is only 1 in 10,000. The donor and the patient should be «genetic twins», and this is very rare.

What activities to promote the donation of hematopoietic stem cells and bone marrow are planned in the future? What activities have already successfully attracted new donors?

By the end of 2023, many activities are planned to develop the Federal Register of Bone Marrow Donors on both the All-Russian and regional scale. Among them are not only lectures and presentations to students and the Open Day to youth associations directly in the walls of the Kirov Research Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion FMBA Russia. On September 1, the launch of a large-scale, unparalleled project in Russia - «All-Russian Bone Marrow Donation Marathon «#Let’sstandup!» is planned. It will cover 72 cities in the Russian Federation.

Among the events that have already been held, it is worth mentioning the donor action «Help your neighbor», which received a great response. It was attended by about 1000 people - employees of more than 30 organizations of FMBA Russia. The actions organized together with «Melbet - First League» - joining the Federal Register of Bone Marrow Donors of Football Club «Kuban» and organization of a mobile point for blood donation during the match «Dynamo» - «Volga» at the stadium «Anzhi Arena» in Caspian.

I would like to point out that the main focus is on raising the level of public awareness and conscious readiness to enter the Federal Register of Bone Marrow Donors.

Our traditional question: what would you wish donors and those who are going to join the donor program?

I wish them health and inspiration on good deeds!

Other interviews

13.12.24

Interview with Stanislav Davydov

In 2024, for the first time, the All-Russian Professional Skills Competition among Blood Service institutions included a category titled "Best in Profession: Public Relations Specialist." Based on expert evaluation and public voting, the winner was Stanislav Davydov, Head of PR and Blood Donation Advocacy at the St. Petersburg City Blood Transfusion Station. With over 15 years dedicated to promoting blood donation, Davydov has played a key role in shaping the modern Blood Service institution, implementing effective promotional tools, organizing impactful campaigns, and initiating ambitious projects.

12.12.24

Interview with Ilgiz Vafin

Every year, the Blood Service holds an All-Russian contest of professional skills, where it identifies the best doctors in the industry, the best teams and donor projects. In 2024, a representative forum once again brought together delegates from all regions of Russia in Moscow. Ilgiz Akhmatovich Vafin, the chief physician of the Kuzbass Blood Center, won in the Best Transfusiologist Doctor category. We talked to the laureate about his medical and scientific work, as well as about the prospects for blood and bone marrow donation in Kuzbass.

10.10.24

Interview with Egor Dubov

The donor movement became important and unifying for the youth project «Leaders of the Nizhny Novgorod region». The donor days organization is a laborious process that requires attention. How to start preparing the first donor action, how to motivate colleagues, why it is important to provide educational work among future donors, says the activist of the Youth Project «Leaders of Nizhny Novgorod region» and organizer of the donor actions Egor Dubov.

12.08.24

Interview with Evelina Tomilova

Chelyabinsk regional blood transfusion station was the first in the All-Russian competition of professional skills of the Blood Service in the nomination «Do not miss important» and category «Best poster» with the project «Give five!» The author of the project Evelina Tomilova, a PR manager, told about the poster. It is an effective tool of propaganda, thanks to its visual and concise nature, actively used to promote donor actions among residents of the Southern Urals. In addition to blood donation, posters are also about friendship and unity around the good cause of peoples traditionally living in the region.

18.04.24

Interview with Oleg Sheps

In March, a man came to the Samara Regional Blood Transfusion Clinical Station anonymously. He aroused the great interest of many donors and employees. Not everyone recognized Oleg Sheps at once. He registered like all donors, filled out the necessary documents and waited in the corridor. There was a whisper that a participant of the TV show «Battle of Psychics» is in the queue. Fans among donors and their family members turned out to be many. At each stage of the donor journey, Oleg was expected to take a photo. He didn’t refuse to anyone and told what motivated him to donate blood.

21.03.24

Interview with Natalya Demina

Direct interaction with donors and feedback are important in a successful donor promotion. How to make it effective, says Natalia Demina, the PR manager of the District Blood Transfusion Station in Nizhnevartovsk on the example of two projects «There is a contact» and «ABC of donorship». The projects received the recognition of colleagues and became laureates of the All-Russian competition of professional skills of the Blood Service 2023.

06.02.24

Interview with Irina Karikht

The Blood Service of the Republic of Crimea has published a fairy tale “About Vik, Nadezhda and the path to Danar” especially for young patients of the oncohematology department of the Republican Children's Hospital. This project was highly appreciated by the jury of the All-Russian competition of professional skills of the Blood Service and deservedly received a Laureate diploma. Irina Karikht, PR-manager of the Blood Center of the Republic of Crimea and co-author, told us about.

20.12.23

Interview with Aizan Sultanmuratova

The nurse is with donor throughout entire donation journey. Aizan Sultamuratova told us how to be close and how to help donor to be calm and confident. She is the winner of the All-Russian competition of professional excellence of the Blood Service in the nomination “Best Medical Worker 2023”, category “Best Nursing Personnel”, nurse of the Republican Blood Transfusion Station of the Chechen Republic.

20.11.23

Interview with Anna Maximova

The cheerfulness and combat nature helps Anna Valeryvna Maksimova, the daughter of a railway officer, to cope with life’s difficulties. She is a laboratory doctor, head of the clinical diagnostic laboratory of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Blood Center #1, and the laureate in the nomination «Best medical worker 2023».

25.10.23

Interview with Eduard Bezuglov

Many professional football clubs actively support the donor movement. Fully aware of their responsibility to society, the flags of Russian sport are providing great assistance in the development of blood donation - they are enlisting the army of fans in a noble and important cause. One of the leaders in this direction of social work was the football club of CSKA. Three times a year it holds Donor Days at the stadium «VEB-Arena». The head of the medical department of PFC CSKA Eduard Bezuglov told us how fans of the big game become donors.

29.09.23

Interview with Svetlana Gubskaya

Mother of the many children from Samara gave 200 liters of immune plasma to save hundreds of children’s lives. The Blood Service of Samara region nominated Svetlana Gubskaya to participate in the regional public action «People’s recognition» in the nomination «Recognition and Respect» and asks for donor support in voting.

14.06.23

Interview with Ludmila Podlesnaya

Blood donation is the conscious choice of a strong man. It is only necessary to support - informatively, morally, emotionally - someone who really wants to help. Ludmila Podlesnaya, chairman of the trade union organization of the K.G. Razumovsky Moscow State University of Technologies and Management, believes that this is the main task of the donors' movement.

25.05.23

Interview with Anna Krupko

Donor Day has become a good tradition at the Omsk Technical University. Dozens of students and lecturers are looking forward to this event as an opportunity to express themselves, save someone's life. Anna Krupko, coordinator of the Donor Day and student of the Engineering Institute of the Omsk State Technical University, told us about the main donor event at the university.

04.04.23

Interview with Natalya Zaitseva

The projects of the Samara Regional Clinical Blood Transfusion Station have been nominating at professional medical competitions for several years now. Their creativity and effectiveness are highly appreciated by advertising and pr specialists. This year, the two projects won awards in the professional skills competition of the Blood Service.

09.03.23

Interview with Natalya Volkova

The project «Don't Hibernate» by the Yaroslavl regional blood transfusion station became the winner of the All-Russian competition of professional skills by the Blood Service and underlined the importance of regular blood donation. Natalia Volkova, PR-Manager of the Yaroslavl Regional Blood Transfusion Station, told how the project was created.

15.02.23

Interview with Julia Cheresova

The real story of saving a woman in labor with a rare phenotype by a donor formed the basis of the award-winning project “You can be a superhero!” in the "Best Video" category in the "Don't Miss the Important" nomination of the All-Russian Competition of Professional Skills of the Blood Service. The donor-savior came straight from the tundra on a snowmobile! The work was presented by the Blood Transfusion Department of the Nadym Central District Hospital of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, headed by Julia Cheresova.

30.01.23

Interview with Patimat Abdurakhmanova

The blood transfusion station in the Republic of Dagestan willingly supports volunteers and public figures to promote blood donation in the region. An example of such cooperation came to the original publication - a brochure in which the donor himself talks about stem cell donation. The creator of the booklet is Patimat Abdurakhmanova, volunteer, head of the «Tut Dobro» charity foundation. She told us about the new project, which became one of the winners of the All-Russian Competition of Professional Skills of the Blood Service.

29.11.22

Interview with Irina Lositskaya

The first person the donor interacts with is the nurse. Not only professionalism is very important, but also personal involvement. Laureate of the All-Russian competition of professional skills Irina Lositskaya, operating room nurse, chief nurse of the Blood Center of the FMBA of Russia, told how to combine these qualities, what depends on it and why ethics issues have become so relevant in the age of high technology.

31.10.22

Interview with Alexandra Vnuk

The base for the laureate project of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency of Russia Blood Center «On the Pulse of Life» are education, information, loyalty. Alexandra Vnuk, head of the donation development department of the FMBA of Russia Blood Center told us how to implement them on a large scale and in relation to various target audiences of the donor community.

12.09.22

Interview with Svetlana Mishina

The Ulyanovsk Regional Blood Transfusion Station uses non-standard creative approaches to promote donation among young people. Its interactive project Donor-Party significantly increased the number of young donors during the year, and helped many of them overcome their fear of donating blood. Svetlana Mishina, pr-manager of the Ulyanovsk regional blood transfusion station, tells about the project, received a well-deserved award at the All-Russian competition of professional skills of the Blood Service in the nomination “Time to do adult things”.