Newsline (Winter 2009)

Research: National Blood Foundation Grant Goes to Blood Center Researcher

The National Blood Foundation (NBF) Board of Trustees in September awarded a 2008 NBF Scientific Research Grant to Puget Sound Blood Center scientist Adam Munday, PhD.

Dr. Munday was one of only seven researchers selected by NBF to have projects funded in the fields of blood banking, transfusion medicine or cellular and related biological therapies. His study proposal, “Platelet Cold Receptors: Potential for Improving Platelet Cold Storage,” focused on determining whether it is possible to extend platelet shelf life by further lowering temperatures without compromising functions.

Platelets, a component of blood, are transfused to prevent continued bleeding due to low platelet count or active bleeding. Unfortunately, platelets can be stored for only five days before bacteria multiply to an unsafe level.


Dr. Adam Munday

Currently, refrigerated platelets clear from the blood too quickly to protect patients from bleeding for very long. But why they clear so quickly is not well understood.

Dr. Munday’s study aims to uncover the mechanisms of the rapid clearance of cold stored platelets, which in turn may lead to methods that will allow platelets to be refrigerated while still maintaining their viability.

The end result of Dr. Munday’s research into extending platelet storage life could one day lead to a lower discard rate of outdated platelets and increased availability of platelets for transfusion. Such a development would also produce a cost savings for blood banks, hospitals, and patients.

“The funding from NBF’s research grant program is key to supporting early career researchers as they explore diverse, cutting edge topics that will contribute to the further advancement of transfusion medicine and cellular therapies worldwide,” said Connie Westhoff, PhD, chair of NBF’s Grants Review Committee. “This program serves an important role in support of research and is the only grant program that directly focuses on professionals in the transfusion medicine and cellular therapies community.”

Proposals for NBF grants are evaluated on the basis of their scientific merit; relevance to and impact on transfusion medicine and science. NBF scientific research grants are made possible by contributions from NBF’s Council on Research and Development (CORD) members and its NBF Partners, along with gifts from individuals, institutions and foundations.

Each grant recipient will receive up to $65,000 to pursue either a one- or two-year research project in the field of blood banking, transfusion medicine or cellular and related biological therapies. To date, NBF has awarded more than $5.5 million in grants since 1985 to 152 early-career researchers. This year’s recipients are: Hava Avraham, PhD; Rose Beck, MD, PhD; Christine Cserti-Gazdewich, MD; Nobuharu Fujii, MD, PhD; Mark Looney, MD; Adam Munday, PhD; and Beth Shaz, MD.