April 2024
BIOTHERAPIES NEWS: Highlights and Top Stories
BIOTHERAPIES AT AABB: Community and Association News
Cell Notes: A Monthly Column by Christina M. Celluzzi, PhD, MS, CABP(H), Director, Biotherapies at AABB??
Career Mosaic: Weaving Stories Across Generations, One Day at a Time?
Pablo Picasso, the great Spanish artist, said “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” This profound statement emphasizes the importance of discovering our unique talents and then sharing them with others. Just as ‘seasoned’ professionals can offer guidance and wisdom based on their experiences, students and early-career professionals contribute fresh perspectives and enthusiasm. Our individual journeys are not just about personal success. They are also about contributing to the greater mosaic of knowledge and growth. Our stories can provide context. I recently had the privilege and pleasure of being invited to share my career journey at the Biomedical Graduate Students Organization (BGSO) retreat at University of South Dakota / Sanford Research .
Back by Popular Demand: Biotherapies Pavilion at the 2024 AABB Annual Meeting?
Join us for the 2024 AABB Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas, Oct. 19-22, where you'll discover new research and breakthroughs you won't want to miss. This event convenes blood and biotherapies professionals to share cutting-edge research, unique perspectives, networking with colleagues and practice-changing solutions. The 2024 AABB Annual Meeting will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston. Registration for AABB Members and exhibitors opens June 5, 2024.General Registration opens June 12, 2024. Sign up to be notified when registration opens.
AABB is pleased to announce the return of the Biotherapies Pavilion at the 2024 AABB Annual Meeting. AABB introduced the inaugural Biotherapies Pavilion in 2023 as a specially designed networking space in the Exhibit Hall, providing biotherapies companies with new and curated opportunities to network with key audiences in the field and gain access to all that the AABB Annual Meeting has to offer. ?
The space also hosts industry expert open-mic conversations. These engaging 45-minute unscripted sessions were one of the many successful features of the inaugural Biotherapies Pavilion at the 2023 AABB Annual Meeting. Last year’s sessions included:?
? Becky Cap (SVP, Biotherapies at Vitalant ) on the importance of collaborations within the biotherapies ecosystem??
? Dr. Robert Tressler (CSO, at Excellos ) on considerations around healthy donor characterization??
? Tracey Hlucky, CQA, CMQ/OE (ASQ) (QA Sr. Mgr, at Kite Pharma ) on how to leverage established quality systems when developing advanced biotherapies?
AABB is excited to welcome several participants to the Biotherapies Pavilion and networking space during the 2024 AABB Annual Meeting:?
AABB is offering limited availability Biotherapies Pavilion connection packages and sponsorship opportunities. These packages provide the opportunity to network with attendees and decision makers in the biotherapies field while gaining access to AABB’s more than 76-year-strong community.??
AABB encourages interested organizations to inquire as soon as possible – as spots for 2024 are selling out fast! Register your interest via AABB’s online enquiry form or email Becca Newburg , sales and business development manager, biotherapies at AABB at [email protected] .??
Come See Us at ISCT 2024?
AABB is thrilled to join ISCT, International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy at #ISCT2024, taking place May 29-June 1 in Vancouver, Canada.??
Come chat with Jeff Wren , AABB’s vice president of biotherapies, and Christina Celluzzi, PhD, MS, CABP(H) , AABB’s biotherapies director, to learn more about how partnering with AABB can help make biotherapies safe, effective and available worldwide. To set up a meeting or to learn more about AABB’s products and services advancing biotherapies, visit AABB’s biobooth webpage. ?
We’re also excited to share the latest updates to our Certified Advanced Biotherapies Professionals (CABP) credentialing program – the field’s first and only biotherapies credential – which include the launch of two Sample Exam Question sets . Drop by the AABB booth to learn more about the CABP, becoming a CABP and to enquire about your eligibility.? ?
Did you know?
AABB's CABP is a mark of distinction that benefits the entire biotherapies field by:??
Candidates must meet pre-requisites, obtain a passing grade on the computer-based proctored online exam covering the seven key domains, and agree to the CABP Code of Conduct to earn the certification for a three-year cycle.?
To find out if you are eligible for the CABP, register your interest through AABB’s CABP exam online pre-approval form , or visit AABB’s Becoming a CABP page for more information.?
On the AABB Website: Updated Corporate Partner Webpage?
AABB 's established and highly successful Corporate Partner Program is a flagship offering within AABB's corporate services portfolio. The program connects organizations with decision makers in the blood and biotherapies field, while showcasing their commitment to advancing quality for donors and patients.?
"AABB's corporate partners remain integral to our organization, playing a pivotal role in advancing the blood and biotherapies field's health. We've strived to deliver exceptional value through our program, fostering numerous collaborative opportunities to ensure our communities thrive." said AABB’s CEO Debra BenAvram .?
As we continue to expand and grow the program, AABB is excited to share the new and updated AABB Corporate Partner Program webpage .
Visit the AABB website to view the new webpage, learn more about program benefits and to see the list of current AABB Corporate and Premium Corporate Partners.?
AABB BIOTHERAPIES NEWSFEED: More Updates From the Field
Read more from the AABB Newsfeed , an essential resource offering the latest news, analysis, commentary and updates on critical topics for the blood and biotherapies community.
AABB MEMBERS ZONE: Biotherapies Resources and Events
AABB Update on Cellular Therapies Subsection Activities
As a benefit, AABB members can enroll in subsections that meet monthly to enrich their professional experience and to keep informed about happenings in the field of cellular therapy. Some recent highlights of a few of the subsections include:
Asia Pacific Group (APG) discussed AABB Standards for Cellular Therapy Services and suggested potential items to include as the Standards Committee works on updating Standards, which is done in regular cycles.??
Cellular Therapies Current & Emerging Topics (CT-CET) subsection members discussed challenges and cryopreservation issues and paid tribute to outstanding individuals honored during Medical Lab Professionals week.?
Cord Blood (CB) Subsection members discussed a Journal Article on the Impact of FDA's HCT/P ZIKV Recommendations on Cord Blood Unit Eligibility and Utilization in a Large Public Cord Blood Bank and various challenges authored by Guggenheim, Kurtzberg and Shaz.?
Quality, Regulatory & Management (QRM) Subsection discussed issues in the regulatory environment.??
Spanish Language Subsection (SLS). The SLS is led by the team: Leader Dr. Maria De Los Angeles (Angie) Mu?iz, Co-leader in Transfusion Medicine, Dr. Pérez Carillo, Specialist in Clinical Pathology and Epidemiology, and director of the Blood Bank of Clínica Colsanitas, Colombia, and Carlos Ferrari, Laboratory Head a VidaCel, Chile. We invite Spanish-speaking members of the blood and biotherapies community to become a member of AABB and continue to grow the SLS . Past presentations can be viewed by AABB members on the AABB subsection projects webpage .?
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Not an AABB Member?
Join AABB to gain access to essential benefits, including professional development opportunities, critical tools and resources, and opportunities to collaborate with leaders in the field. Be a part of a diverse community of health care professionals working to make transfusion medicine and biotherapies safe, available and effective worldwide. Find out more on the AABB website.