DKMS welcomes 16-year-olds to the stem cell register
This change means that more young people across the UK can start their journey toward potentially becoming a lifesaving stem cell donor earlier — helping give patients diagnosed with blood cancers and blood disorders a better chance of finding a matching donor, and a second chance at life.
What’s changing
Previously, you had to be 17 or older to register with DKMS UK, but under our new guidance, 16-year-olds can now also register as potential future DKMS stem cell donors.
Donors under the age of 18 are currently ‘pre-registered’ on the stem cell donor list. This means that you are on the register, but you won’t actually be called to donate until you turn 18. However, this will also change soon, so that 16-18 year olds who are matched to a patient can be called to donate from the first day they join the stem cell donor register.
You can find out more in our FAQ section, where you can also find more detailed information about how registration works for younger donors.
Why we’ve made this change
Studies show that stem cell transplants from younger donors often result in better outcomes for patients. For this reason, medical teams are more likely to select a younger person for donation. That’s why we’re working to get more young people on the register – it increases the odds of a successful transplant for patients. By enabling 16-year-olds to join the DKMS UK donor register earlier, we can grow the pool of potential lifesavers, and help more patients find the right match sooner.
In the UK, individuals aged 16 and above are legally able to make decisions relating to their own health and wellbeing, including the decision to join the stem cell donor register. This means that the expansion of our registration criteria is also consistent with UK medical norms.
Even though ‘pre-registered’ donors under 18 cannot currently donate until they are 18, starting the registration process early allows DKMS UK to engage and inform young people, helping to build commitment and readiness when they reach full eligibility.
What this means for young people
If you are aged 16 and meet our other eligibility criteria — including general good health — you can now join the UK stem cell register with DKMS and be part of our vital network helping patients worldwide. As a registered potential donor, you will then be ready to be matched with someone in need as soon as you turn 18.
This milestone represents a significant step forward in our mission to support patients with blood cancer and blood disorders, and increase access to stem cell transplants. The more people who register — especially younger donors — the greater the chance of finding matches for patients who urgently need them.
Generation Lifesaver
As part of our work getting more young people on the stem cell donor register, we have also launched a new national initiative, Generation Lifesaver. Through this programme, we are working with schools and colleges around the country to hold information and registration sessions, helping students aged 16+ to make an informed decision to join the stem cell donor register.
If you are interested in working with us on this project, or wish to introduce us to a school in your network, you can email the team at: schools@dkms.org.uk
If you are interested in joining the stem cell donor register, you can start saving lives from 16 by ordering your swab kit here.
