MD Anderson Cancer Center is seeking plasma donation from people who have recently recovered from a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, the hospital announced in a news release April 28.

MD Anderson is investigating using the plasma to transfuse from COVID-19 survivors into critically ill patients.

Researchers believe that antibodies present in the transfused plasma could help stimulate a stronger immune response in patients with COVID-19, according to the news release. The transfusions are part of a national initiative the hospital is participating in, led by the Mayo Clinic, called the Convalescent Plasma Expanded Access Program.

The cancer hospital is participating in the experimental treatment, known as convalescent plasma therapy, under a Food and Drug Administration expanded access program.

“While not yet proven for COVID-19, early indications show treatment with convalescent plasma could be beneficial for some patients,” said Elizabeth Shpall, M.D., professor of Stem Cell Transplantation in the news release. “These donations will help us understand how COVID-19 works and how to treat it, and we are glad to make this an option for our patients.”


MD Anderson joins UTHealth and Memorial Hermann as participants in the program, which was designed by the FDA to allow access to the therapy for academic medical centers across the country.

This comes after Baylor College of Medicine and the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center began partnering April 8 to procure COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma from appropriate donors while Houston Methodist Hospital was given the go-ahead March 28 by the FDA through an Emergency Investigational New Drug application to transfuse donated plasma, while St. Luke’s Medical Center has already performed several of the same procedures under the same applications.

For a list of criteria to donate, and for more information for those interested in donating plasma may call 713-745-6742 or email the MD Anderson Blood Bank at [email protected].