AABB

06/02/2026

Few physician-scientists have shaped blood safety and cellular therapy quite like Edgar Engleman, MD.

During the early years of the AIDS epidemic, Engleman helped pioneer blood screening approaches designed to identify individuals at risk before symptoms appeared and advocated for blood safety measures years before mandatory HIV testing was implemented.

Later, his work at Stanford Blood Center helped establish foundational methods for cellular immunotherapy, contributing to the scientific pathway that ultimately led to the first FDA-approved cellular therapy and helping usher in a new era of cancer treatment.

AABB is proud to honor Dr. Engleman with the 2026 Landsteiner-Alter Award. Here’s how he helped shape two defining chapters in the history of our field: https://bit.ly/4dP7yR8

06/01/2026

When it comes to fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT), a previous pregnancy may offer important clues about future risk.

The challenge is identifying which pregnancies are most likely to develop severe thrombocytopenia and require closer monitoring or intervention.

In a study published in Transfusion, investigators identified several factors associated with severe neonatal thrombocytopenia:

🔹Anti-HPA-1a alloimmunization
🔹A history of severe thrombocytopenia in a previous pregnancy
🔹The absence of antenatal IVIG treatment

For clinicians, the findings may help guide risk assessment, monitoring and management decisions in future pregnancies.

Read the open-access study: https://bit.ly/4u3jVPC

05/29/2026

More gay and bisexual men in England are donating blood following the U.K.’s shift to individualized donor assessment policies, according to a new survey from the FAIR (For the Assessment of Individualized Risk) Steering Group.

The survey of more than 8,700 male donors found that 7.5% identified as LGBTQ+, compared with 1.8% in a comparable 2014 survey.

IDA, introduced in the U.K. in 2021, shifted from a time-based deferral approach to an individualized assessment model for blood donation eligibility, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

Read more from NHS Blood and Transplant: https://bit.ly/4e8TCTf

New analysis indicates large increase in the number of gay men donating blood in England over the last decade, following changes to Government blood donation guidelines.

05/26/2026

New research suggests emergency responders may have greater flexibility in using whole blood or component therapy for trauma patients with life-threatening bleeding before they reach the hospital.

In the multicenter TOWAR trial, researchers found no significant difference in 30-day mortality between patients who received low-titer group O whole blood (LTOWB) and those who received standard component therapy during prehospital transport.

Investigators also found similar outcomes with whole blood stored for up to 21 days.

The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, may help inform civilian and military prehospital transfusion practices.

Read more on the AABB Newsfeed: https://bit.ly/4uxmPNO

05/20/2026

AABB is honored to welcome Frederick Appelbaum, MD, as the keynote speaker for the 2026 AABB Annual Meeting.

A globally recognized leader in transplantation medicine and biotherapies, Appelbaum has helped drive landmark advances that transformed patient care and continue to shape the field today.

During his keynote address, he will explore the evolution of bone marrow transplantation and highlight the important role the blood banking and transfusion medicine community has played along the way.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4up5rdV

Join us at . Member registration opens June 3.

05/18/2026

Could your abstract be your ticket to AABB2026? 🎫 Submit by Wednesday for your chance to present.

Presenting at the 2026 AABB Annual Meeting is a meaningful way to share your work, connect with peers and elevate your visibility in the field.

Opportunities include oral abstract sessions, posters, poster tours and spotlight sessions. Sharing your work can also help increase exposure and support the value of attending within your organization.

📅 Abstract proposals are due May 20. Submit yours today: https://bit.ly/4ujMcCA

05/17/2026

Before a patient reaches the hospital, EMS professionals are already making life-saving decisions.

Whether responding on our roads, at community events or by air, EMS teams bring skill, compassion and calm to some of the most difficult moments people will ever experience. EMS teams have also helped champion the expansion of prehospital blood transfusion, bringing life-saving care directly to patients when minutes matter most.

During EMS Week, we recognize the dedication, expertise and innovation of the EMS professionals serving on the front lines every day. Thank you for the care you provide in critical moments.

05/13/2026

In recognition of World Blood Donor Day on June 14, the AABB Foundation’s virtual walk/run returns this year from May 14–June 14.

The event aims to raise awareness of the ongoing need for blood donation and support research in transfusion medicine and biotherapies.

Participants may walk, run, roll or pedal individually or as part of a team.

Registration is now open: https://bit.ly/435XuhC

05/08/2026

Every three weeks, Tracy Antonelli and her daughters receive blood transfusions as part of life with thalassemia.

After being diagnosed with thalassemia as a child, Antonelli later adopted three daughters living with the condition.

Together, they’ve received more than 1,400 units of blood.

Today, her daughters are thriving, riding bikes, playing basketball and living full, active lives.

This World Thalassemia Day, AABB is sharing their story of resilience, family and the lifesaving impact of blood donation.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4utAcxQ

05/07/2026

Hundreds of blood and biotherapies professionals across Latin America have trained under Lillian Maria de Castilho, PhD, (third from right).

A leader in immunohematology and blood group genetics, Castilho has spent more than four decades advancing molecular transfusion medicine while helping build rare donor programs, strengthen laboratory networks and expand access to expertise across the region.

Now the 2026 Sally Frank Memorial Award recipient, she says the future of the field depends on ensuring innovation reaches patients everywhere.

Read her story in AABB News: https://bit.ly/42g6Ln0