Sickle Cell Disease and Hemolytic Transfusion Reactions (HTR) – with Karina Yazdanbakhsh

Discovering Insights into Alloimmunization in Sickle Cell Disease: The Key to Safer Blood Transfusions

Red blood cell transfusions are critical for saving lives, but they can also lead to a serious complication – hemolytic transfusion reactions (HTRs). In patients with sickle cell disease, the risk of encountering HTRs is significantly higher. These reactions can vary from mild to life-threatening, as they involve the destruction of both transfused and the patient’s own cells. However, understanding the molecular mechanism behind the severity of these complications remains a challenge, making effective prevention and treatment difficult.

Join Dr. Karina Yazdanbakhsh, Vice President and Director of Research Development at the prestigious Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute of the New York Blood Center, as she sheds light on the pathophysiology of alloimmunization in sickle cell patients at risk of HTRs. Through her groundbreaking research, Dr. Yazdanbakhsh aims to unravel the mysteries behind transfusion-associated alloimmunization and cellular immune responses in blood disorders.

Dr. Yazdanbakhsh’s remarkable achievements have earned her recognition and support from the U.S. National Institute of Health, including an Outstanding Investigator Award from the National Institute of Heart, Lung, and Blood. Her academic journey spans a PhD in molecular biology from the esteemed National Institute for Medical Research at Mill Hill, London, and postdoctoral training in molecular and cellular immunology at Columbia University and The Rockefeller University, before becoming an integral part of the New York Blood Center in 1996.

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn about the latest strategies for ensuring positive transfusion outcomes and effectively managing and preventing HTRs in patients with sickle cell disease, as Dr. Yazdanbakhsh shares her invaluable expertise and research insights.