Through education, community engagement, and donor drives, IDSL works to close the representation gap on stem cell donor registries.
We create accessible resources that help community members understand stem cell donation, registry eligibility, donor matching, and the donation process.
We collaborate with cultural groups, student organizations, community leaders, and local events to reach more potential donors across Canada.
We support donor registration drives and awareness campaigns that make it easier for people to learn, ask questions, and join the registry.
A donor and a patient — both part of the Iranian community — whose stories are at the heart of why IDSL exists.
Mixed Iranian-Scottish · Nelson, BC
"There is no monetary gain for me, besides knowing I helped save a life, which is priceless."
In 2023, Jakob became the first unrelated donor from the Iranian community in Canada to publicly share his stem cell donation story — donating to save a young girl with a life-threatening blood disease.
Watch Jakob's Story
Part-Iranian ancestry · Transplant Candidate
"Being from a minority group myself, I started to worry that if I weren't able to find a match with my family, I would have been doomed because my background is tremendously underrepresented on the registry."
Ali's story as a leukemia survivor of part-Iranian ancestry shows exactly what is at stake when communities are missing from the registry.
Read Ali's StoryIranians make up 1% of the world's population, but less than 0.2% of the stem cell registry.
Patients searching for a stem cell donor are more likely to find a compatible match from someone who shares a similar ethnic or ancestral background. This gap in representation makes it harder for Iranian patients to find a life-saving match.
Every new registrant increases hope for patients and families waiting for a match.
Learn About IDSLStem cell donor matching relies on inherited tissue markers — making ethnic background a key factor in finding compatible donors.
The Iranian community remains underrepresented on registries, creating a harder search for Iranian patients who need a match.
When more people from a community register, the chances of patients within that community finding a match improve significantly.
Joining the registry takes just minutes and a simple cheek swab. No immediate commitment to donation — just the chance to save a life.
A patient’s best chance of finding a stem cell donor often comes from someone with shared ancestry.
Although Iranians make up approximately 1% of the global population, they account for less than 0.2% of the stem cell donor registry — leaving Iranians 5× underrepresented.
That difference is more than a statistic — it can affect whether patients find a lifesaving match. IDSL is working to close this gap by increasing awareness, encouraging registration, and mobilizing Iranian and other underrepresented communities to join the stem cell donor registry.
Of all registered stem cell donors worldwide, Iranians make up less than 0.2% — far below their 1% share of the global population.
"Representation on the registry is not just symbolic. It can be life-saving."
Stem cell donor matching is closely connected to ancestry. A patient's best chance of finding a compatible unrelated donor is often with someone from a similar ethnic or ancestral background.
This means that increasing Iranian representation on registries can directly improve the chances of Iranian patients finding a match. Every person who registers expands that possibility.
Join the RegistryCanadian Blood Services encourages you to join Canada's national stem cell registry if the following apply to you. Answer honestly — there's no wrong outcome.
IDSL is driven by community members who believe that awareness and representation can change outcomes for patients.
Founder & President, IDSL
“Since the campaign's launch, we have reached incredible milestones, and it's all thanks to your unwavering support. Through your dedication, we have registered over 2,000 potential stem cell donors to the Canadian registry — each one offering a life-changing chance for patients in desperate need of a match.”
Farnaz leads IDSL with a mission to increase donor awareness, strengthen community education, and help more patients find life-saving stem cell matches. Since the campaign's inception, IDSL has hosted more than 85 stem cell drives across 15+ cities and 8 provinces, partnering with Iranian student associations and stem cell chapters nationwide.
farnaz.sharon@gmail.comMeet the full teamOur Partners & Collaborators
Registering takes minutes. It costs nothing. And it could save the life of someone in the Iranian community who is waiting for a match right now.
via Canadian Blood Services · free · open to eligible adults