This award was initiated in 1954 as the Karl Landsteiner Memorial Award, honoring Karl Landsteiner, MD, whose lifetime research laid the foundation for modern blood transfusion therapy. It was renamed the Landsteiner-Alter Award in 2021 to also honor Harvey Alter, MD, longtime AABB member and leader in transfusion medicine, who received the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his research leading to the identification of the Hepatitis C virus. The Landsteiner-Alter Award recognizes a scientist whose original research has resulted in an important contribution to the body of scientific knowledge. The scientist who receives the award should have an international reputation in transfusion medicine or biotherapies. Recipient is selected by AABB’s Board of Directors.
Recipient:
Tomas Ganz, MD, PhD
Citation:
In recognition of extraordinary achievements throughout a field-advancing career. Dr. Ganz's research has been instrumental in expanding knowledge of innate immunity and iron metabolism. His discoveries of the iron-regulatory hormones hepcidin and erythroferrone transformed the field's understanding of iron biology. Ganz's work has influenced multiple fields of medicine and has helped to spur new diagnostic procedures and therapies that have advanced patient care.
This award honors Tibor Greenwalt, MD, who was the first registrant at the first AABB Annual Meeting and founding editor of TRANSFUSION. The award recognizes an individual who has made major scientific or clinical contributions to hematology, transfusion medicine or biotherapies, and succinctly communicated these advances. Recipient is selected by a joint committee composed of leaders from the Cellular Therapies Section Coordinating Committee and the Transfusion Medicine Section Coordinating Committee with formal approval by AABB’s Board of Directors.
Recipient:
Steven L. Spitalnik, MD
Citation:
In grateful recognition of a singular career, which has profoundly influenced the blood and biotherapies field. Dr. Spitalnik's contributions have been indispensable in advancing the clinical practice of blood transfusion, stem cell transplantation, and therapeutic apheresis. His research comprises more than 250 published studies and he has served as the principal investigator for multiple influential NIH-funded studies, which particularly focus on red blood cell biology and the glycobiology of human blood group antigens. In addition, Dr. Spitalnik's leadership in the field - including as a member of the AABB Board of Directors and as a mentor to many - has been invaluable.
This award began as a lectureship in 1963 and was designated as a Memorial Award in 1983. The Emily Cooley Memorial Award and Lectureship recognizes an individual who has demonstrated teaching ability and has made a major contribution to the field of transfusion medicine or biotherapies. Recipient is selected by a joint committee composed of leaders from the Cellular Therapies Section Coordinating Committee and the Transfusion Medicine Section Coordinating Committee with formal approval by AABB’s Board of Directors.
Recipient:
Michael F. Murphy, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, FFPath
Citation:
In grateful recognition of his many years of strong and generous leadership in the blood and biotherapies field, both in the United Kingdom and throughout the world. During his remarkable career, Dr. Murphy has served as an educator, researcher, mentor and essential leader in the field - including as president of AABB. His myriad accomplishments have led to indispensable advancements in transfusion safety and clinical practice.
The Sally Frank Memorial Award was established in 1982 in memory of Sally Frank and her dedication to red cell serology and education. This award recognizes an individual who is, or has been, a medical technologist involved with these fields and has demonstrated quality research, teaching and/or service abilities in the technical aspects of immunohematology. Recipient is selected by AABB’s Transfusion Medicine Section Coordinating Committee with formal approval by AABB’s Board of Directors.
Recipient:
Thierry Peyrard, PharmD, PhD
Citation:
In recognition of extraordinary contributions to the field of transfusion medicine. Dr. Peyrard's research has led to the discovery of 10 blood group systems and many red cell antigens. His research led to a better understanding of immunohematology and its most complex cases, as well as to the multiple issues and challenges related to rare blood. In addition, Dr. Peyrard is highly respected for his work, sharing of expertise, passion for educating the next generation of transfusion medicine professionals, and for actively collaborating with colleagues throughout the world.
This award, renamed in 2005 after Bernice Hemphill, W. Quinn Jordan, and Joel Solomon, honors leaders from the transfusion medicine and cellular therapy community. The award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions in the areas of administration, quality programs, law and/or government affairs. The individual has demonstrated leadership qualities and a consistent willingness to lend his/her expertise to his/her peers. The award may recognize one particular act or an accumulation of contributions throughout many years. Recipient is selected by a joint committee composed of leaders from the Cellular Therapies Section Coordinating Committee and the Transfusion Medicine Section Coordinating Committee with formal approval by AABB’s Board of Directors.
-capb(h)-cqa.jpg?sfvrsn=e20955c0_1 "J. Wade Atkins, MS,MLS(SBB), CAPB(H), CQA")
Recipient:
J. Wade Atkins, MS,MLS(SBB), CAPB(H), CQA
Citation:
For his role in leading advances in quality in transfusion medicine and biotherapies for decades. Wade has been a leader of quality initiatives throughout his career and has contributed to the development of numerous resources - including the AABB Standards for Cellular Therapies, quality handbooks, the Circular of Information (Circular) for the Use of Cellular Therapy Products - and served on multiple AABB committees. He has perpetuated interest in quality by sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm through numerous presentations, publications and mentorship of others. His commitment to quality in transfusion medicine and cellular therapies is evident in his daily work and ongoing service to AABB and other organizations.
The John Elliott Memorial Award, established in 1956, recognizes an individual who has given outstanding service to AABB by demonstrating a willingness to lend his/her expertise to the association through work on committees, the AABB Board of Directors and other areas. The John Elliott Memorial Award is presented in odd years only. Recipient is selected by the John Elliott Memorial Award review and selection team of leaders and experts, appointed by the AABB Awards Committee with formal approval by the AABB Board of Directors.
Recipient:
Yvette Tanhehco, PhD, MD, MS, CABP
Citation:
In recognition of strong leadership, commitment and critical contributions to the blood and biotherapies community. Dr. Tanhehco's leadership of, and participation in, AABB committees has led to a myriad of benefits for the field, including the publication of important research and advancements in education initiatives.
This award, created in 2002, honors Dale A. Smith, a long-time Baxter Healthcare executive who was responsible for establishing the Fenwal Division of Baxter. This award recognizes groundbreaking work performed in the application of technology to the practice of transfusion medicine or biotherapies. Recipient is selected by the Dale A. Smith Memorial Award review and selection team of leaders and experts, appointed by the AABB Awards Committee, with formal approval by the AABB Board of Directors.
Recipient:
Raymond P. Goodrich, PhD
Citation:
For his pioneering research, which led to the development and implementation of pathogen-reduction technology. Dr. Goodrich's work represents an important advancement in blood safety worldwide and has led to reductions in the risk for transfusion-transmitted diseases. His work has led to lasting contributions in helping to ensure that blood is safe and available for more patients in need.
This award was established in 2016 to recognize a scientist whose original research resulted in an important contribution to the body of scientific knowledge in transfusion medicine or biotherapies. Recipient is selected by the AABB Foundation Scientific Grants Review Committee with formal approval by the AABB Foundation Board of Directors.
Recipient:
David Roh, MD
Citation:
For his 2020 AABB Foundation-funded research on Red Blood Cell Contribution to Coagulopathy and Cerebral Oxygenation after Intracerebral Hemorrhage. The project led to novel and innovative approaches to assess coagulation, hemostasis, and cerebral oxygen delivery related to transfusions in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, with clinical practice change implications at the intersection of the clinical laboratory, transfusion medicine, and stroke. Since the completion of his AABB Foundation grant in 2022, Dr. Roh has co-authored 27 scientific papers, of which he is senior author on 5.
This award honors the author(s) of the best original research article published each year in TRANSFUSION. It recognizes impeccable study design, innovation, significance, and effective communication in any area of knowledge covered by the journal.
Selection of recipient(s) is a collaborative effort of the journal’s Associate Editors and the AABB Foundation Grants Review Committee. (The RISE Award is presented annually.)
Recipients:
Amelework Wodajo, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC
Ravi Sarode, MD
Shiney Valiyaparambil, PA-C
Christopher Webb, MD
Nicole DeSimone, MD
Rebecca Dill, RN, BSN
Amena Usmani, MD, MBA
Citation:
For their original research article titled "A lower fibrinogen threshold does not lead to increased bleeding risk in patients receiving therapeutic plasma exchange: A prospective single-center analysis," published in the 2024 volume year of TRANSFUSION.
AABB President’s Awards are given every year to recognize the extraordinary public service and contributions of an individual or an organization in the health care arena. The recipients’ work furthers AABB’s goals and missions.
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