January 24, 2022
Despite a global pandemic that continues to impact all of us personally and professionally, the blood and biotherapies community persevered through adversity to serve patients and donors with the absolute best quality care in 2021. Throughout another difficult year, you continued to give generously to AABB’s National Blood Foundation (NBF). We are incredibly thankful for your commitment to our mission and the investment it makes in the future. What we accomplished in 2021 is because of your belief in our mission. We hope you will celebrate a few meaningful achievements with us.
Since 1983, the NBF has funded more than 200 innovative scientists through our early-career Scientific Research Grant Program and has awarded more than $11 million in grant funding. This cornerstone program is an incredibly valuable resource to scientists in the early stages of their careers in blood and biotherapies. In 2021, the NBF funded six inspiring scientists from the University of California, San Francisco and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to Auburn University.
Highlighted Research from Prior NBF Grant Recipients:
Without a doubt, there is science and recognition missing from this list. The scientists and research presented below is merely a snapshot of the contributions made every day by prior NBF grant recipients. Let’s celebrate the commendable work by so many advancing the field for tomorrow.
The NBF strives to promote industry dialogue to stimulate innovation and thought exchange among our key stakeholders: the leaders of the field. This year, the NBF offered opportunities to participate in education and leadership programming designed by your colleagues specifically for you. Thank you for being a part of the conversation!
R&D Summit
The NBF R&D Summit was a three-part series focused on forward-thinking research discussions that can impact blood and biotherapies. Executives, senior leadership, researchers, and regulators throughout our community were invited to journey with us as we discover recent investments in innovation in the field. The second part of the program looked at a new generation of blood products and innovations in trauma situations. The third segment in the series discussed the greatest challenges facing the blood and biotherapies field and introduced innovations to address these challenges.
Research Symposium
The NBF Research Symposium showcased innovative research impacting transfusion medicine and biotherapies and was moderated by Jim Gorham, MD, PhD. In a series of short talks, NBF-supported investigators – including new members of NBF’s Hall of Fame, incoming NBF Scholars and the 2021 recipient of the NBF Award for Innovative Research – provided updates on their research programs.
There was so much to celebrate in 2021, and with your continued support and involvement, there is even more to look forward to as the NBF enters its 40th year. Right now, the AABB Board of Directors and Foundation leadership are laying the groundwork for an exciting step toward setting a course forward for the NBF and its signature programs to increase grant funding and expand the Foundation’s impact even further.
Last year, the AABB, NBF and NBFRET Boards, and other key opinion leaders, decided to combine NBF’s fundraising events with the NBFRET’s grantmaking activities in one new foundation. They also held key conversations with leaders of AABB, NBF and NBFRET, along with focus group discussions, to gain valuable feedback about the goals and purposes of this new entity.
Right on the heels of AABB’s new name and logo, the NBF will kick off its own rebranding activities in 2022. This reimagining process will include a deep dive into the Foundation’s strengths, the benefits of our programs and services, and the extent to which our current communication and messaging strategies are effective at telling the story of the impact of our work. It will also include an evaluation of the extensive member and customer surveys conducted as part of the reimagining process. Final recommendations will include brand positioning, and they may include potential revisions to the Foundation's name and logo. There is much more to come as we look forward to the Foundation’s next 40 years!