{"id":56155,"date":"2023-04-24T21:03:09","date_gmt":"2023-04-24T19:03:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pharma-trend.com\/en\/san-diego-blood-bank-launches-innovative-precision-blood-expansion\/"},"modified":"2023-04-24T21:03:09","modified_gmt":"2023-04-24T19:03:09","slug":"san-diego-blood-bank-launches-innovative-precision-blood-expansion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pharma-trend.com\/en\/san-diego-blood-bank-launches-innovative-precision-blood-expansion\/","title":{"rendered":"San Diego Blood Bank Launches Innovative Precision Blood\u2122 Expansion"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nPrecision Blood\u2122 typing matches blood recipients with donors of 30+ blood groups using 300 antigen markers, which can reduce blood transfusion reactions \u2013 a breakthrough that transforms the standard of care for patients today<\/i><\/p>\n

SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–San Diego Blood Bank<\/a> (SDBB) today launched its groundbreaking Precision Blood\u2122 initiative expansion, which the nonprofit healthcare organization believes can greatly improve the standard of care as we know it today for blood transfusion patients. SDBB, and its division Southern California Blood Bank<\/a>, is primed to fully launch the program and scale the Precision Blood\u2122 typing process. Thanks to generous grants from The Conrad Prebys Foundation and the David C. Copley Foundation to support the first phase of SDBB\u2019s Precision Blood\u2122 initiative, over 30,000 blood donations collected and processed by SDBB have received Precision Blood\u2122 typing to better match with blood recipients.<\/p>\n

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\nThe organization\u2019s collection efforts and research initiatives in San Diego, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties impact patients in need throughout Southern California and across the U.S.<\/p>\n

\nWith the official launch of the Precision Blood\u2122 expansion, SDBB and Southern California Blood Bank leaders are also issuing a call for research funding; hospital and laboratory partners; and more diverse blood donors in order to truly scale the Precision Blood\u2122 typing process.<\/p>\n

\n\u201cWe want people to know the thought of advanced medical research happening in the future is actually happening now with Precision Blood\u2122,\u201d says Nikhil Nayak, chief business officer, San Diego Blood Bank. \u201cOur initial work reveals how Precision Blood\u2122 is positively changing and saving lives today. With the funding we need to continue this groundbreaking innovation, we will be able to expand our capabilities to meet the needs of more transfusion patients.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nRevolutionizing treatment for blood transfusion patients<\/b><\/p>\n

\nNearly 18 million blood transfusions happen each year throughout the U.S., for everything from routine surgeries to treatments for patients with leukemia or other cancers, kidney disease, bone marrow disorders, childbirth complications, or sickle cell disease. When someone receives a blood transfusion, it is critical the blood they receive is a close match to their own. However, patients who receive multiple transfusions are at risk for adverse transfusion responses to antigens in donor blood that do not precisely match. That is because the body recognizes the difference in red blood cell antigens that may cause a patient\u2019s immune system to reject transfusion, leading to life-threatening reactions and other complications. Between 14 and 44% of chronically transfused patients develop antibodies against red blood cells, which may cause reactions and negative health outcomes including a decreased life expectancy.<\/p>\n

\nSDBB\u2019s Precision Blood\u2122 initiative is based on medical research showing there are over 30 blood groups containing over 300 antigens which impact how well a person will respond to blood transfusions or match with a donor. This is a new frontier in precision medicine for blood transfusion patients. By comparison, only two blood groups and three antigens are typically considered for routine transfusion (involving the widely known blood types A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB-, O+ and O-).<\/p>\n

\n\u201cUltimately, we want to help as many patients receive the best matched blood available when needed,\u201d said Dr. Mark Edmunds, chief medical officer for San Diego Blood Bank. \u201cFor example, when a patient receives specific blood matched with a donor of similar racial or ethnic background, there may be a decrease in adverse transfusion reactions and improved clinical outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nPrecision Blood<\/b>\u2122 in action for patients and donors<\/b><\/p>\n

\nKamila is an empathetic and truly sweet child who loves to be outdoors playing with bugs and climbing up trees. Born with a genetic blood disorder called thalassemia that requires chronic lifelong blood transfusions, Kamila received her first blood transfusion at two months old and will continue to depend on them every three weeks for the rest of her life. Thanks to generous blood donors and San Diego Blood Bank\u2019s Precision Blood\u2122 research, Kamila is now receiving blood that is more precisely matched.<\/p>\n

\n“So far, my daughter Kamila has not experienced any of the serious complications that living with thalassemia can present, but because she’s had over 150 blood transfusions from over 150 different blood donors, she has developed antibodies – significantly decreasing her pool of matched donors,\u201d said Kamila\u2019s mother, Maria Saradpon. \u201cWithout matched donors, Kamila would not be able to receive the only treatment available for her condition, which are lifelong blood transfusions. With better matched blood, Kamila can continue to thrive, and her future is bright.”<\/p>\n

\nFor decades, blood donors who have given to SDBB and Southern California Blood Bank have enabled groundbreaking research and technological breakthroughs that make a difference in the lives of patients. Precision Blood\u2122 donors who help Kamila and patients like her will receive the added benefit of learning more about their specific blood type and will be able to use this information to advocate for more specifically matched medical treatments for themselves and their families moving forward.<\/p>\n

\nIn the future, as the program is scaled, anyone who donates blood to the San Diego Blood Bank and is tested with this technology will see their Precision Blood\u2122 type information in their online donor portal, along with current cholesterol information that is performed on every blood donor. Additionally, donors can soon receive a report of their own Precision Blood\u2122 type analysis, with details on their exact antigen profile after they sign a medical release form. Once healthcare technology systems can improve the interface between blood banks and hospital partners, medical providers will have immediate access to a patient\u2019s precise blood type information, which will improve a blood type match and decrease the possibility of a reaction after a blood transfusion during surgery or other medical treatment.<\/p>\n

\n\u201cKnowledge is power, and Precision Blood\u2122 provides a new level of knowledge to both donors and recipients\u2019 families,\u201d continued Nayak. \u201cThrough expanding our Precision Blood\u2122 initiative, we can continue to have this impact on patients like Kamila and on donors who have helped save and improve her life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nThe Need: Funding for research, hospital and laboratory partners, more diverse donors<\/b><\/p>\n

\nSDBB has access to blood donors from across the U.S. through affiliations with numerous blood centers around the country, including the National Blood Collaborative<\/a>, and is a leader in Precision Blood\u2122 testing for this reason. However, within its current laboratory configuration, SDBB only has space capacity to run 15,000 samples per year. As a nonprofit organization, SDBB needs support from funders to expand testing capacity and run more research to ensure proper typing and matching of the right blood with the right patient.<\/p>\n

\nOver the next two years, SDBB and Southern California Blood Bank aim to expand the diversity of their blood products while partnering with hospitals and biotechnology organizations to expand lab capacity and conduct the research needed to further scale their Precision Blood\u2122 typing process so that these closely matched blood supplies can be delivered to any patient who needs them. Current hospital and laboratory partners include Rady Children\u2019s Hospital-San Diego, Kaiser Permanente-San Diego and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.<\/p>\n

\nLeaders from SDBB and Southern California Blood Bank have a goal to raise $4 million to:<\/p>\n