AABB Foundation Congratulates Recipients of 2025 Grants

The AABB Foundation proudly supports investigator-initiated original research spanning all facets of blood banking, transfusion medicine and biotherapies. Since its establishment in 1983, the AABB Foundation has disbursed more than $11 million to promising early-career investigators through its Scientific Research Grants Program. Many past recipients of AABB Foundation grants have spearheaded groundbreaking research, propelling them to prominent leadership roles in the blood and biotherapies field.

The AABB Foundation congratulates the recipients of the 2025 Process Development Grants and the Early-Career Scientific Research Grants. This year, seven recipients were awarded grant funding to advance a range of research initiatives. “We are proud to support an exceptional group of grant recipients this year as they lead efforts to drive innovation in blood and biotherapies,” said AABB Foundation Richard Schäfer, MD, FRSB. “These grants are made possible thanks to the generous support of individuals and institutional partners, and we are deeply grateful for their continued dedication to the progress of our field to benefit patients and donors.”

Below, we present this year’s deserving recipients and their cutting-edge research projects, accompanied by reflections from each awardee on the significance of this grant. AABB and the AABB Foundation extend heartfelt congratulations to the talented scientists funded this year and sincere gratitude for the generosity of our financial donors who make this grant funding possible.

Early Career Scientific Research Grants

The Early-Career Scientific Research Grant funds investigator-initiated, original research in all aspects of transfusion medicine and biotherapies. Many AABB Foundation early-career grant recipients have become leaders in their field and are recognized in the Foundation Hall of Fame

---

Christopher Thom, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Project Title: Improving Platelet Transfusions with RNA Innovation

“I want to extend my sincerest thanks for your generosity in contributing to the AABB Foundation and furthering blood and biotherapies research. The goal of my research program is to make platelet transfusions safer for infants. Giving preterm infants donated adult platelets can actually increase neonatal bleeding complications and lead to lifelong disabilities. Through my AABB-sponsored proposal, we will tailor platelets to have the right biological activities for sick babies. Giving the ‘right type’ of platelets will reduce complications for these vulnerable patients. I could not have advanced this project without your help!”

---

Stephanie N. Hurwitz, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor
Indiana University School of Medicine

Project Title: Targeting CCR2 for Improved Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization

“I am writing to extend my heartfelt thanks for your generous support of the AABB Foundation. As a recipient of grant funding made possible by your contribution, I want you to know how profoundly your gift is helping to advance research that can directly impact the lives of stem cell donors and transplant recipients.

My research focuses on improving how we mobilize hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from healthy donors, a critical first step in the success of blood and marrow transplantation. Although current mobilization strategies work for many, a significant number of donors experience poor mobilization, leading to delayed or failed collection. Our goal is to target a new pathway to make mobilization more reliable, safer and more comfortable for all donors. Importantly, we are working to ensure that transplant patients receive the best possible grafts for long-term recovery and survival. Your support enables us to pursue these high-impact studies, and provides me, as an early-career physician-scientist, the foundation to build a lifelong research program dedicated to improving transfusion medicine and biotherapies. Your generosity is directly supporting the advancement of science that could one day improve or even save the lives of patients who depend on blood and cellular therapies.”

---

Yoelys Cruz-Leal, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow
Canadian Blood Services

Project Title: Mechanistic Analysis of Anti-D-Induced Trogocytosis in Fetal Red Blood Cells: Roles of Fc Receptors and IgG Subclasses

“I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for your generous support through the AABB Foundation Early-Career Scientific Research Grant. This award marks a pivotal milestone in my journey from trainee to independent investigator and provides an essential foundation for my continued growth in the field of transfusion medicine.

Thanks to your generosity, I am now able to advance my preclinical findings into clinical research, collaborate with leading institutions and scientists and expand the scope of my research program. This grant not only provides the critical time and resources needed to pursue long-term scientific goals but also strengthens my ability to publish impactful work and secure future funding.

My research focuses on uncovering the mechanism of action behind anti-D immunoglobulin (RhIg), currently used to prevent hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) due to RhD incompatibility. By understanding how antibodies mediate immune suppression, we aim to develop alternatives to the human-derived anti-D product. Such advancements could eliminate the need for RhD vaccination and donor plasma collection, while also paving the way for novel prophylactic strategies to prevent HDFN caused by other antigens—ultimately improving outcomes for countless patients.

I am truly honored to receive this support, and I am committed to making the most of this opportunity. Thank you for investing in early-career scientists and for championing the future of transfusion medicine research.”

---

Sean X. Gu, MD, PhD

Instructor
Yale School of Medicine

Project Title: Investigating Platelet Immune Mechanisms in Sickle Cell Disease

“I want to express my gratitude for your generous support of the AABB Foundation and the funding that is helping to advance research in transfusion medicine. I am a physician-scientist at Yale, and my research focuses on how platelets regulate diseases like sickle cell disease and other complex blood disorders. This grant will support research to better understand these diseases and facilitate the development of innovative and individualized diagnostic approaches to improve patient management.

As an early career investigator, this funding also helps support my own development as a scientist. I am committed to bridging scientific discoveries with patient care, and your contributions directly support these goals. Your generosity is making a tangible difference both in my career and in the lives of patients whose care depends on advances in scientific research.”

Lisa D. Eisler, MD

Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Project Title: Efficacy of Preoperative Intravenous Iron Supplementation in Adolescents Undergoing Scoliosis Surgery

“This generous award from the AABB Foundation will support expanding my ongoing study to a broader patient population and increases the likelihood of definitive findings in our search for effective and beneficial patient blood management strategies in pediatric surgical patients. I am so fortunate to have this wonderful research opportunity, which will help sustain my career development as a physician scientist in these challenging times for research.”

2025 Process Development Grant Recipients

The goal of the Process Development Grant is to enhance operational efficiency through the development, implementation and outcomes analysis of innovative processes, techniques, or technologies. The Process Development Grant supports improvements to business operations through the development, implementation and outcomes analysis of innovative processes, techniques or technologies. 

---

Beth Shaz, MD, MBA

Professor of Pathology
Duke University School of Medicine

Project Title: Novel Cord Blood-derived Immunotherapy for Solid Tumors

“Thank you to those who contribute and support the AABB Foundation. Receiving this grant marks an important transition in my career from transfusion medicine to biotherapies. … The funding has the potential to impact patient survival by aiding the development of an allogeneic cord blood-derived CAR T cell product for solid tumors. This product could create CAR T-cell therapies that are affordable, democratized, off the shelf, and ready to use.”

Katherine Risvold

Executive Director
Circulate

Project Title: Enhance the Nation’s Abilities in Disaster Preparedness, Planning and Decision-making Through the Expansion of a Comprehensive Data Warehouse for the National Blood Supply and Its Offerings

“Thank you for the opportunities this grant provides Circulate. We are excited to begin work on these exciting developments that will expand available insights into new products and donor behavior and strengthen our product.”

* The institutions recognized among AABB Foundation’s funding partners include the American Red Cross, Blood Centers of America, Canadian Blood Services, Coastal Blood Foundation, Fresenius Kabi, New York Blood Center, QuidelOrtho, Roche, Santa Barbara Foundation (Tri-Counties Blood Bank Fund), Terumo Blood & Cell Technologies, Topeka Community Foundation (Kansas Blood Service Fund) and Vitalant.

Read more about World Blood Donor Day.