Meet an AABB Changemaker: Sean X. Gu, MD, PhD

In honor of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month, recognized each September, AABB spoke with members of the blood and biotherapies community who are striving to improve our understanding of sickle cell disease and advance patient care. 

Sean X. Gu, MD, PhD, is an instructor of laboratory medicine at Yale University School of Medicine. He earned his MD and PhD at the University of Iowa’s Medical Scientist Training Program and continued his training with residency and a hematopathology fellowship at Yale-New Haven Hospital.

In 2025, Gu received an AABB Foundation early-career scientific research grant to study platelet immune mechanisms in sickle cell disease.

What inspired your interest in transfusion medicine and, specifically, sickle cell disease?

I was first drawn to transfusion medicine during residency, when I realized how vital blood products are to so many patients. What stood out most were patients with sickle cell disease, many of them young, coming in repeatedly for transfusions. Seeing the daily impact of the disease reinforced my interest in understanding its biology and towards developing more effective therapies.

You are a 2025 AABB Foundation early-career scientific research grant recipient. Can you tell us about your research and its potential clinical applications?

Traditionally, sickle cell research has focused on red blood cells, but my work emphasizes the role of platelets. We hypothesize that platelets are not merely bystanders but actively contribute to inflammation and vaso-occlusion in sickle cell disease.

Our lab has previously demonstrated that pathological platelet subsets play dual roles in immune modulation and clotting. By investigating how platelets interact with the immune system, we aim to identify novel therapeutic targets to reduce vaso-occlusive crises and improve outcomes for patients with sickle cell disease.

What are the next steps in your research? What milestones do you hope to achieve in the future?

My current research focuses on understanding why some patients with sickle cell disease develop vaso-occlusive complications while others do not. Using advanced single-cell techniques, I aim to define how distinct pathological platelet subsets contribute to these events. Looking ahead, I plan to validate potential therapeutic targets in preclinical models and ultimately, translate these findings into clinical applications in the future.

What advice would you give early-career investigators in the blood and biotherapies field?

Ask questions that matter, even if the answers aren’t immediately clear. Be patient, as research often moves in small, incremental steps; having mentors who believe in you can make an enormous difference.

Financial gifts from the blood and biotherapies community ensure that the AABB Foundation can continue helping early-career scholars conduct promising scientific research. What would you say to someone considering making a financial gift to the AABB Foundation?

Your support makes it possible for early-career investigators like me to pursue new research directions. These projects can provide the foundation for discoveries that can improve care for patients with sickle cell disease. I am truly appreciative for the opportunity to conduct research supported by the AABB Foundation.

Since 1983, the AABB Foundation has funded more than 200 investigators – many of whom are now leaders in the field – working to improve the lives of patients and donors through innovative scientific research. To learn more about AABB Foundation and support its mission, visit aabb.org/foundation.