title: One size will never fit all: the future of research in pediatric transfusion medicine.
abstract: There is concern at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and among transfusion medicine specialists regarding the small number of investigators and studies in the field of pediatric transfusion medicine (PTM). Accordingly, the objective of this article is to provide a snapshot of the clinical and translational PTM research considered to be of high priority by pediatricians, neonatologists, and transfusion medicine specialists. Included is a targeted review of three research areas of importance: (i) transfusion strategies, (ii) short- and long-term clinical consequences, and (iii) transfusion-transmitted infectious diseases. The recommendations by PTM and transfusion medicine specialists represent opportunities and innovative strategies to execute translational research, observational studies, and clinical trials of high relevance to PTM. With the explosion of new biomedical knowledge and increasingly sophisticated methodologies over the past decade, this is an exciting time to consider transfusion medicine as a paradigm for addressing questions related to fields such as cell biology, immunology, neurodevelopment, outcomes research, and many others. Increased awareness of PTM as an important, fertile field and the promotion of accompanying opportunities will help establish PTM as a viable career option and advance basic and clinical investigation to improve the health and wellbeing of children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Center for Transfusion and Cellular Therapies, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Cassandra D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Josephson
authors.affiliation: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Traci Heath
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Mondoro
authors.affiliation: Bonfils Blood Center, Aurora, Colorado.
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Ambruso
authors.affiliation: Blood Systems Research Institute, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.affiliation: Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Sloan
authors.affiliation: National Children's Medical Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Naomi L C
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Luban
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Widness
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000639:trends*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000639:trends*; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000639:trends*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical / Q000639:trends*