What is "the Registry"?
The first registry in America was the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry (now known as Be the Match) started in 1979. Many countries have their own registries, and many have multiple. Today most of them combine to make up Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide (BMDW). Today BMDW is made up of 58 stem cell donor registries as well as 38 chord blood banks. By connecting the world's registries, BMDW facilitates the process of finding an unrelated donor for patients around the world. For example, my mom's unrelated donor is from Europe and we owe her life to BMDW.
Image borrowed from Be the Match.