BioLinked

Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Donation

Interested in contributing to lifesaving research? Right now, OBI's Research & Development team is seeking participants in an HPC(A) study that comes with a $750 reimbursement.

Call 405-212-1176 or email championresearch@obi.org to book your appointment or learn more.

What Is a Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Donation?

This apheresis procedure removes blood from one arm and separates the blood in a machine. The machine transfers blood stem cells into a collection bag and returns the remaining blood into your other arm.

What Is Involved?

You will need to take a series of four shots. These shots are with a very small need that is placed just below the skin’s surface. The medication is a manufactured version of a growth factor that your body naturally makes. This growth factor signals the bone marrow to release more blood stem cells into circulating blood.

Is the Procedure Painful?

After the initial needle stick, the procedure is not uncomfortable. You may get a little cold, but we have plenty of blankets just in case.

How Long Does It Take?

You will need to come to the blood center four days in a row prior to the procedure to receive the growth factor injections.

On the fifth day, the procedure will take around four hours to complete. We can provide you with snacks while you wait, but you will want to limit your fluid intake.

What Is It Used For?

This procedure is performed to collect blood stem cells. These cells are responsible for making all the other blood cells in your body. Scientists can reprogram these donated cells to attack specific types of cancers. Your cells may be used for cancer research or reprogrammed and given to a cancer patient.

Additional Research Opportunities

New research opportunities are regularly posted to our Research & Innovation page and in the section below. Many offer reimbursement for time and travel, and all of them are dependent on people like you.

  • All of Us

    All of Us is an exciting program from the National Institutes of Health. The mission of the program is simple: to speed up health research. And they’re asking one million or more people to lead the way.

    Learn More

  • Mononuclear Cell Apheresis | $250
    • Apheresis procedures like plateletpheresis

    • The cells that are collected are used by researchers and biotech companies to develop immune cell-based cancer therapies

    • Some of the donations are used as the staring material for a immune cell based drug that is undergoing clinical trials in patients

    Learn More

  • Bone Marrow Donation | $500
    • The amount of blood removed is the same volume as occurs in a normal blood donation

    • These products are used to harvest mesenchymal stromal cells, which are used to promote growth in damaged tissue

    • Donors are admitted to a local surgery center

    • Donors are given conscious sedation anesthesia. The donor is asleep, but not sedated to a level that requires a breathing tube

    • A special needle is inserted into the hip and bone marrow is removed

    Learn More

  • Glaskosmithkline Plasma Donation | Reimbursement rate varies
    • Donors are screened for high levels of a specific blood factor

    • Selected donors are asked to donate plasma

  • Research Samples | Reimbursement Rate Varies
    • Research-specific samples drawn from relevant populations

    • Requirements vary

BioLinked

BioLinked participants

Founded by Our Blood Institute in 2015, BioLinked presents an easy way for our incredible donors to save lives and contribute to medical breakthroughs through clinical research uniquely tailored to them.

Learn About BioLinked

Bio-Sharing Network

Bio-Sharing Network logo

A partnership between community-based blood centers who are committed to providing safe blood products while also supporting new cell therapy creation.

More About Bio-Sharing