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:
Edgar Engleman, MD
Citation:
In grateful recognition of an extraordinary career that has led to important advancements in the field. Dr. Engleman’s work has been instrumental in improving the safety of the blood supply, which has benefited countless patients. In addition, his research into the use of immune cells to treat disease was the basis for the first FDA-approved cellular therapy and paved the way for a new era in which cellular therapies have become a standard treatment for many cancers.
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.
-d-phil-frcpath.jpg?sfvrsn=de6347dd_1 "Simon J. Stanworth, MA, FRCP (Paeds, UK), D.Phil, FRCPath")
Recipient:
Simon J. Stanworth, MA, FRCP (Paeds, UK), D.Phil, FRCPath
Citation:
In recognition of exemplary contributions to transfusion medicine and advancements in patient outcomes worldwide. Dr. Stanworth's extensive research career comprises more than 550 published studies and has focused on advancing the safety of blood transfusion and optimizing patient outcomes. Among his many critical findings, Dr. Stanworth's research has led to advancements in our understanding of platelet transfusions in pre-term neonates, the risk of thrombotic events in gastrointestinal bleeding, and much more - all of which have improved patient safety and transfusion practices.
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:
Donald L. Siegel, PhD, MD
Citation:
In grateful recognition of his extraordinary career and his field-advancing research. Dr. Siegel's world-renowned research has spurred critical advancements, leading to effective new therapies for countless patients. Additionally, Dr. Siegel has been instrumental in mentoring subsequent generations of leaders in the blood and biotherapies community, many of whom have made their own essential contributions to the field.
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:
Lillian Maria de Castilho, PhD
Citation:
In recognition of her many essential leadership and research accomplishments in the field of blood and biotherapies. In addition to her work on more than 200 scientific studies, Dr. Castilho has helped to bring transformative advancements to the field in Latin America through her education, research and mentorship initiatives. Throughout her career, she has trained hundreds of blood and biotherapies professionals in Latin America and has made lasting contributions to advance quality and safety throughout the region.
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.
Recipient:
Nabajyoti Choudhury, MBBS, PhD, MBA
Citation:
In recognition of an influential, decades-spanning career dedicated to improving transfusion medicine safety and quality in India and throughout the world. Dr. Choudhury's leadership of both his hospital and the blood and biotherapies community in India has been indispensable. He has driven innovations and advancements that have enhanced safety and improved care for countless patients. In addition, he has been instrumental in helping to advance blood safety standards throughout the world.
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:
Willy A, Flegel, MD
Citation:
In recognition of his original scientific and clinical contributions within the field of molecular immunohematology. Dr. Flegel's work and leadership led to a detailed characterization of the Rh gene locus and most of the clinically relevant molecular variants in the RHD and RHCE genes, resulting in important contributions to scientific knowledge. Dr. Flegel was among the first to create an Internet-based database of RH polymorphisms to share information with scientists worldwide. Additionally, he is responsible for developing the largest external quality assessment scheme for proficiency in molecular immunohematology with the goal of enhancing patient safety internationally.
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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