June 2026

In This Issue

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  Expanding Possibilities in Sickle Cell Care

  In this month's President's message, Jose Cancelas, MD, PhD, CABP, discusses how advances in research, treatment and comprehensive care are expanding possibilities for people living with sickle cell disease.

  3 min read |Open Access |President’s Message
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  Decisions About Best Options for Sickle Cell Disease Management Are Highly Individualized

  Experts discuss the benefits and limitations of available therapies, as well as the importance of shared decision-making, individualized treatment plans and earlier intervention.

  10 min read |Members Only |Feature
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  The Finish Line: Warrior Amy Cohen Makes Marathon History

  Amy Cohen shares her journey of becoming the first person with sickle cell disease to complete a marathon.

  7 min read |Open Access |Feature
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  From Pain to Purpose: A Daughter’s Mission to Improve Sickle Cell Care

  Tara King shares how her mother's experience with sickle cell disease inspired her career path at OneBlood.

  6 min read |Open Access |Feature
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  In Conversation with the Founders of Sikila: Building a Digital Health Platform for Sickle Cell Warriors

  A husband-and-wife team in Switzerland recently launched a community-focused app to help sickle cell warriors manage their health and advocate for better care.

  8 min read |Open Access |In Conversation
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  Three Days That Move the Field Forward: 2026 AABB Annual Meeting in Atlanta

  Steven Armstrong, DHA, MLS(AMT), SBB(ASCP), FACHE, chair of the Annual Meeting Education Committee, spoke with AABB News about this year’s premier event for the blood and biotherapies field, as well as new enhancements and networking opportunities. 

  7 min read |Open Access |Annual Meeting
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  AABB Technical Manual Returns With a New Edition

  AABB News spoke with editor-in-chief Evan M. Bloch, MBChB, MS, about the new edition of the Technical Manual, including updates made for 2026 and the editorial process involved in bringing the book to completion.

  4 min read |Open Access |High Priority
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  Defining Best Practices for Sickle Cell Care

  Matthew S. Karafin, MD, MS, discusses the inspiration for his career path and his research on red blood storage age and red cell quality in patients with sickle cell disease.

  4 min read |Members Only |White Coats
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  Older Red Cells, Chronic Transfusion, and Ethical Allocation: Is It Time to Rethink the 42-Day Storage Paradigm?

  For patients with sickle cell disease, the discussion surrounding “fresh blood” is no longer simply about inventory management. It becomes a debate about biology, equity, scarcity and, arguably, justice.

  8 min read |Members Only |The Ethical Pulse: Blood, Biotherapies & Beyond
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  AABB Foundation Grant Recipient Spotlight: Advancing Sickle Cell Care Globally

  Julia Z. Xu, MD, MScGH, discusses the potential impact of her research on transfusion management in sickle cell disease.

  5 min read |Members Only |AABB Foundation: Shaping the Industry
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  Building a Better Blood Support Strategy for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease

  Vitalant’s sickle cell disease initiative aims to align recruitment, hospital engagement, inventory management and clinical support across a national system to improve care for patients with SCD.

  3 min read |Open Access |In the Field
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  QuidelOrtho: An Enduring Commitment to Transfusion Medicine

  AABB Premium Corporate Partner QuidelOrtho has partnered with blood banks and hospital laboratories to provide safe and compatible blood to labs that ensure patients receive it when they need it most.

  5 min read |Corporate Partner Spotlight
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  Building a Budget You Can Actually Stick To

  The best budget is not the most detailed one. It is the one you can consistently follow month after month.

  4 min read |Members Only |Be Well
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  Member Spotlight: Krystalyn Hudson, PhD

  "Through AABB, I have learned how essential community, mentorship and shared purpose are to advancing transfusion medicine."

  3 min read |Members Only |Membership Focus
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  Member Registration Is Open For 2026 AABB Annual Meeting

  Of Note: News stories from the field.

  5 min read |Members Only |Of Note