A New Era of Blood and Biotherapies

We are entering an era in which blood-derived therapies are expanding beyond transfusion alone. Cell therapies, gene therapies and other advanced biotherapies are transforming how we treat diseases once thought to have limited therapeutic options, including blood cancers and inherited blood disorders.

Over the past decade, the Food and Drug Administration has approved the first cell-based gene therapies to treat conditions such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia and large B-cell lymphoma, ushering in a new chapter in patient care. The continued expansion of these therapies is reshaping the blood and biotherapies field while creating new possibilities for patients worldwide.

These advances reflect decades of interdisciplinary collaboration among clinical researchers, physicians, scientists, blood centers, industry partners and patients, all working toward a common goal of improving lives through innovation and advancing patient care. As these therapies continue to evolve, AABB remains committed to strengthening the field through education, professional development, standards and accreditation.

Expanding Patient Access

Despite monumental scientific breakthroughs and regulatory approvals for cell and gene therapies, including CAR T-cell therapy, expanding patient access to these innovative treatments remains a critical priority.

This month’s issue of AABB News explores how our community is helping address that challenge through innovative therapies, collaboration and a shared commitment to improving patient care.

In our cover story, experts discuss how collaboration among key stakeholders and organizations is reducing logistical barriers to access and bringing life-changing CAR T-cell therapies closer to patients.

The second feature recognizes 2026 Emily Cooley Memorial Award recipient Don Siegel, PhD, MD, for his research and decades of mentorship in transfusion medicine and biotherapies. His scientific contributions have advanced antibody engineering and cellular therapies while inspiring the field’s next generation of researchers and biotherapies professionals.

This issue also features a preview of the inaugural biotherapies-focused supplement of Transfusion: Evolving Biotherapies: Stakeholders, Solutions, and the Science of Tomorrow. Written by biotherapies experts from the AABB community, the supplement features 12 peer-reviewed articles exploring the evolving roles of transfusion medicine, cellular starting material and cord blood, immune effector cell therapies and other areas shaping the future of biotherapies.

Finally, I encourage you to join us at the 2026 AABB Annual Meeting in Atlanta, where professionals from across the blood and biotherapies field will come together to share innovations, exchange new ideas and strengthen our commitment to improving outcomes for all patients. Register by Sept. 1 to save up to $150 on full-meeting registration.

I hope to see you there.

Jose Cancelas, MD, PhD, CABP
AABB President