NBF Highlights

Some of the highlights from the past year are:

Funded six exceptional projects in transfusion medicine and cellular therapies for a total of $440,500 from a field of 42 high quality applications requesting $3 million in funding.
Added three new Partner members to help keep the funding for grants healthy and growing – Oklahoma Blood Institute, Immucor and Strategic Healthcare group.
Three exceptional lectures given at the NBF Grants Lecture & Luncheon at the AABB annual meeting by Jonathan Kurtis, MD, PhD (2001 NBF Grantee), Director, Center for International Health Research, Associate Director, Transfusion Medicine and Coagulation, Associate Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Center for International Health Research at Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine on Novel Erythrocyte Invasion Protiens As Vaccines For Human Falciparum Malaria; Chance John Luckey MD, PhD (2009 NBF Grantee), Transfusion Medicine Physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital Blood Bank on Directed Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells by Regulated Caspase9 Cleavage of Zona-occludens2; and Christine Cserti-Gazdewich, MD (2008 NBF Grantee), Transfusion Medicine Specialist / Consultant Hematologist at Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Blood Transfusion Laboratory on Cytoadherence in Pediatric Malaria (CPM) Study.
Awarded the Pall Prize to Dr. Christine Cserti-Gazdewich, MD, Transfusion Medicine Specialist / Consultant Hematologist Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Blood Transfusion Laboratory for her completed work entitled Cytoadherence in Pediatric Malaria (CPM) Study. This prize is and has been generously funded for several years by the Pall Medical Corporation to an individual for innovative and creative research that may ultimately lead to improving transfusion medicine outcomes.
Awarded the Dale A. Smith Memorial Award to Gerald A. Grode and Jeffrey E. Miripol for their significant contributions to the invention of Adsol, a red cell storage solution that contains adenine, glucose or fructose, sodium chloride, and mannitol. This solution was the first in the U.S. using mannitol and was important in the extension of RBC storage time. The Dale A. Smith Memorial Award, established in 2002 and endowed by Fenwal Division of Baxter Healthcare Corporation, recognizes an individual or institution that focuses on innovation and creativity in the application of technology for improving transfusion medicine.
Fielded a highly successful golf tournament and Run for Research which raised almost $60,000 for the NBF mission of funding medical research in transfusion medicine and cellular therapies. Through the generosity of CaridianBCT, NBF produced a booklet celebrating 25 years of NBF grants and the 165 grantees that received them since 1985.
Cohosted with AABB, the second CEO Summit at the AABB annual meeting in Baltimore. Over 125 “C-suite” attendees participated to interact with Dr John Kenagy, reknowned healthcare executive and vascular surgeon on innovations in healthcare and a panel on blood management and what it means for the blood banking community. This event was generously supported by CaridianBCT, Haemonetics and Terumo.
Hosted a highly successful Leadership Forum in Miami where more than 80 industry leaders debated the most pressing issues facing transfusion medicine.