TNMU and the Ukrainian Bone Marrow Donor Registry Sign a Cooperation Agreement
On June 16, 2026, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University and the Charitable Organization “Ukrainian Bone Marrow Donor Registry” (UBMDR) signed a cooperation agreement. Representatives of the charitable organization, including its Director and Co-founder Roman Kuts, Deputy Director and Co-founder Yuliia Kuts, and Head of the Volunteer Movement Oleksandr Lashkov, also discussed areas of collaboration with TNMU Rector Professor Petro Lykhatskyi, Vice-Rector for Science and Education Professor Arkadii Shulhai, Head of the Department of Pediatric Diseases with Pediatric Surgery Professor Oksana Boiarchuk, and Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry Associate Professor Svitlana Boitsaniuk.
The aim of this important initiative is to implement the joint program “Together Against Blood Cancer,” which seeks to dispel myths about bone marrow donation among students and university staff, promote transplantation as an effective and life-saving treatment method, and contribute to the expansion of the Ukrainian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (UBMDR), as for many patients with blood cancer, finding a compatible donor is their only chance of survival.
Roman Kuts noted that “the Ukrainian Bone Marrow Donor Registry registers volunteers throughout Ukraine who are willing to donate their cells to save another person’s life. DNA testing for potential donors is carried out in one of the world’s leading laboratories in Germany. Since 2019, the Ukrainian Bone Marrow Donor Registry has been a member of the World Marrow Donor Association, gaining access to donor searches in registries around the globe. On April 1, 2020, a historic event took place in Ukraine – the first bone marrow transplantation from an unrelated donor was successfully performed.”
He added that expanding the registry is of critical importance today, as many patients are still unable to find a suitable donor, and without a donor, overcoming the disease is often impossible. “This year, we are launching cooperation with four universities to engage young people in promoting the donor registry. We are beginning with Ternopil Medical University, my alma mater, where we first presented this initiative. We want future physicians to be well informed about bone marrow donation and to provide their patients with comprehensive and accurate information on this topic,” Roman Kuts emphasized.
TNMU Rector Petro Lykhatskyi thanked the guests for their important social initiative and stated that the university would actively support the charitable organization and involve both faculty members and students in its activities.
Arkadii Shulhai proposed including topics related to bone marrow donation and post-transplant patient care in the sixth-year curriculum. He also noted that the university would seek opportunities to organize educational activities on this subject for dentistry students as well.
Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry Svitlana Boitsaniuk highlighted that the Faculty of Dentistry has maintained close cooperation with the Ukrainian Bone Marrow Donor Registry and continuously supports efforts to raise awareness of its mission and activities.
Becoming a bone marrow donor is safe and provides a real opportunity to save someone’s life. It is symbolic that future healthcare professionals are becoming the driving force behind this humanitarian mission and setting an example for other educational institutions.