Our Science

Educational Symposiums

Learn more about blood quality

Red blood cell (RBC) quality can be compromised by numerous factors related to donor variability, processing, and storage solutions.1 RBCs experience progressive damage during storage that affects their viability and ability to deliver oxygen, impairs their deformability through the vasculature and increases the generation of potentially harmful biochemical mediators.2,3 More than 100 million units of blood are collected worldwide each year, yet the indication for RBC transfusion and the optimal length of RBC storage prior to transfusion may not have been achieved.4 It is for these reasons that Hematologists, transfusion doctors, treating physicians, and scientists want to stay current on the dynamics of blood quality as it is key to the safety of patients.

This webpage is dedicated to advancing scientific understanding of critical topics from the perspectives of leaders within the transfusion community. We invite you to watch the presentations below. Please return to this page frequently to access additional brief presentations on issues of importance to you.

1.Shopsowitz KE, Shih AW. How Red Blood Cell Quality is Starting to Carry its Weight. Transfusion 2021; 61: 336-339. 2.D’Alessandro A, Yoshida T, Nestheide S, et al. Hypoxic storage of red blood cells improves metabolism and post-transfusion recovery. Transfusion2020; 9999; 1–13. 3. Kim-Shapiro DB, Lee J, Gladwin MT. Storage Lesion: Role of Red Cell Breakdown. Transfusion 2011; 51 (4): 844-51. 4. Carson JL, Guyatt G, Heddle NM, et al. Clinical Practice Guidelines from AABB Red Blood Cell Transfusion Thresholds and Storage. JAMA 2016;316 (19): 2025-2035.

Hemorrhagic Blood Failure

Nathan White, MD, MS

Learn about learn about the causes, impact, and treatments for blood failure.

Iron Overload in Transfusion-Dependent Patients

Thomas D. Coates, MD, Section Head of Hematology

Learn about key insights on the management of iron overload.

Sickle Cell Transfusion Therapy
Red Cell Exchange: Benefits and Risks

Paul M. Ness, M.D. Professor of Pathology, Medicine and Oncology

Learn about the benefits and risks of red cell exchange transfusions with sickle cell patients.

DISCLOSURE: Dr. Paul Ness is a currently serving on the Board of Directors at Hemanext, Inc. and is also a stockholder in the company.

Hemanext funded the presentations above. Beyond establishing the presentation topic, however, the content of each was developed independently by the respective clinicians based on their expertise and individual experience.