The Bone Marrow Donor Programme (BMDP) hosted the Beyond the Perfect Match Symposium 2025 on 13 March, bringing together leading doctors, transplant physicians, and coordinators to explore emerging solutions in marrow transplantation. The symposium focused on advancing life-saving options through Haploidentical (Haplo) and Mismatched Unrelated Donor (MMUD) transplants, offering new hope to patients unable to find a fully matched donor.
With Singapore’s diverse ethnic composition limiting the availability of fully Matched Unrelated Donors (MUD), MMUD and Haplo transplants are becoming critical alternatives to expand access to treatment.
Dr Bronwen Shaw, a renowned transplant expert from the United States, delivered a keynote presentation on the viability of MMUD transplants, showcasing their success in improving patient survival rates when MUD is unavailable.
Global clinical data taken during 2017 to 2023 from the United States underscores the growing success of MMUD transplants, positioning them as a viable option for patients lacking a fully matched donor.
Key findings include:
BMDP’s mission is to ensure every patient has access to a life-saving donor. While it facilitates MUD transplants by matching patients with donors who share the same Human Leukocyte Antigen markers, BMDP also actively advocates for alternative transplant pathways to improve patient outcomes.
Mr Charles Loh, Chief Executive Officer of BMDP, remarked, “Every patient deserves a life-saving transplant, whether through MUD, Haplo, or MMUD. BMDP is ready to support the transplant centres in making MMUD a reality. At the same time, we remain committed to expanding the donor registry – because with more options, we can save more lives.”
Dr Bronwen Shaw, Medical College of Wisconsin Professor and Chief Scientific Director of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, said, "MMUD transplants are an important alternative for patients who cannot find a matched donor. Advances in Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD) prophylaxis have made this option increasingly viable, and I think it is critical that Singapore consider this donor source as part of its transplant protocols, considering the very diverse population."
Dr Lim Zi Yi, Medical Director of the Centre for Clinical Haematology, Senior Consultant in Haematology and Medical Chairman of BMDP, also chimed in, "The reality is that not every patient in Singapore will find a perfectly matched donor, and we must be proactive in adopting new approaches. Singapore could be one of the first few countries in Asia to explore the use of MMUD transplants, and the discussions at this symposium mark a significant step towards making this a reality. By broadening our donor pool, we can ensure that more patients receive timely life-saving transplants with the best possible outcomes."
Dr Koh Liang Piu, Senior Consultant Haematology, Oncology, National University Cancer Institute Singapore and Adjunct Professor at the National University Singapore, added, "Haplo transplants have already transformed the landscape of marrow transplantation, giving patients the chance to receive life-saving treatment from family members. Since a locally developed Haplo-2017 protocol was put in place, more than 100 patients in Singapore have been given a new lease of life through haplo transplants. With MMUD as an additional option, we can further increase access and improve outcomes for even more patients who previously had limited choices."
