Research Related to Transfusion Medicine, Immunology, Hematology, Transplantation Medicine,Technological Devices

The National Blood Foundation (NBF), established in 1983, has a history of supporting research and education that advances transfusion medicine and cellular therapies by funding scientific research that benefits patients and donors. Funds are raised annually from corporations, blood centers, foundations and individuals by the NBF for the National Blood Foundation Research and Education Trust Fund (NBFRET) and the NBF. The NBF and NBFRET, which are 501(c)(3) organizations, provide grants for scientific research in the field of transfusion medicine and cellular therapies and support educational initiatives that benefit this community. Since 1983, the NBF has distributed approximately $7.5 million to 177 early-career scientists.

Application Deadline

All applications must be received at the NBF office by 11:59 pm ET, December 31, 2013. Extensions will not be granted.

Important areas of research for the grant program include:

IMMUNOLOGY

Alloimmunization, immune modulation, and tolerance
Animal models for the study of graft-vs-host disease
Biology of autoimmune hemolytic anemia

HEMATOLOGY

Autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplants
Detection of residual disease following stem cell transplants
Effects of growth factors in vitro and in vivo
Biochemistry of coagulation factors

IMMUNOHEMATOLOGY

Blood group serology
Biochemistry of red cell antigens
Molecular genetics of the blood groups

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Studies on Lyme disease, West Nile Virus, SARS and babesiosis and other emerging diseases
Effect of allogeneic transfusion in HIV-infected and immunocompromised patients
Improved detection of transfusion - transmitted diseases

CELLULAR THERAPIES

Cell separation, cell culture or expansion studies for cell therapy applications
Development of novel cell therapies or assays to measure cell viability or function
Pilot studies in regenerative medicine
Studies on mechanisms or roles of cells in stem cell transplantation
Studies on cytokines or growth factors involved in stem cell differentiation

NEW!! PATIENT BLOOD MANAGEMENT

Treatment of pre-admission anemia and bleeding tendencies; Intraoperative/postoperative blood recovery; Surgical hemostasis; Appropriate indications for transfusion; Changing physician behaviors; Blood utilization review.

Grants applications are evaluated on the basis of their scientific merit, relevance to and impact on transfusion medicine, focus and appropriateness to the scope of funding, and likelihood of yielding meaningful data.