The Department of Transfusion Medicine and the American Red Cross co-hosted the 34th Annual Immunohematology & Blood Bank Symposium on September 9, 2015. The immunohematology symposium was held in the Masur auditorium with over 200 participants. The symposium provided attendees with practical information about recent developments, current practices, controversies and laboratory management issues relative to transfusion medicine. Susan L Stramer, PhD received the Richard J. Davey (RJD) Lectureship Award which is given to an individual whose contributions have significantly advanced the field of transfusion medicine. She is a long-time employee of the American Red Cross and her many contributions to transfusion medicine have focused on transfusion-transmitted infectious agents both data collection and analysis and mitigation strategies.
Immediately following the Immunohematology Symposium, the Wednesday Afternoon Lectures Series (WALS) presented Noble Laureate, Peter Agre, MD. He gave a lecture entitled "Aquaporin water channels – from transfusion to malaria". Dr. Agre, a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor and molecular biologist at Johns Hopkins University was awarded the 2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discovery of aquaporins. Antigens of the Colton blood group system are located on aquaporin-1. His lectured complemented the Immunohematology symposium and stimulated interest in the Red Cell Genotyping symposium the following day.
Red Cell Genotyping Symposium
The Red Cell Genotyping Symposium was held on September 10, 2015 in the Masur Auditorium. This symposium was co-hosted by the Department of Transfusion Medicine and BloodCenter of Wisconsin. The symposium reviewed the laboratory aspects and clinical benefits of red cell genotyping in patients and blood donors. Dr. Willy Flegel, chief of the Laboratory Services Section of DTM, served as one of the moderators. Topics presented included precision medicine, red cell genotyping assays, history of weak D: the English perspective, integration of red cell genotyping into the blood supply chain and clinical vignette incorporating molecular studies.
More information about these symposiums can be found at:
http://www.cc.nih.gov/dtm/
https://oir.nih.gov/wals/about-wals-its-named-lectures
