Blog of Bloodworks Northwest



Charles Drew: Plasma Pioneer, “Father of Blood Banking,” and American Hero

Every two seconds, someone in the United States requires a blood transfusion. And it is in large part thanks to the pioneering research of Dr. Charles Drew, whose revolutionary work changed the landscape of blood collection and storage and, historians say, saved the lives of millions of soldiers in WWII, that today we have blood banks in our communities to help people when they need blood to live. “He was a giant in our industry,” said OneBlood Chief Technical Officer Dr. Mike Pratt, who also describes Drew’s research as forming the basis for what would later become cross-matching compatibility testing, which is used in blood banks all over the world today. But it is for what Dr. Charles Drew did for blood stabilization and preservation that his work’s legacy endures today. Read more →

Bloodworks Beyond Borders: Like Water, So Is Blood

“Water is life, we live because of it. Like water, so is blood…” -Tanzanian Taxi Driver We had plenty of rain while in Tanzania and Kenya. According to the local game lodge, there was more rain in June than has ever been recorded in a single month. Read more →
Dr. Kruse-Jarres sitting at her desk.

Bloodworks First Person: “I dream about curing hemophilia and owning a coffee shop in the Caribbean”

Welcome to Bloodworks First Person, a series profiling Bloodworks Northwest employees, volunteers and donors. Dr. Rebecca Kruse-Jarre is the medical director of Bloodworks’ Washington Center for Bleeding Disorders which helps patients with hemophilia and Von Willebrand disease be healthy and independent.Read more →

On Being (and Inspiring) Women In Science

In honor of International Women and Girls in Science Day on February 11, Bloodworks Northwest's Dr. Sherrill Slichter and Dr. Emily Fawcett spoke with KIRO-FM Radio about what it's like to be women in science – and how adults can help more young women pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields.Read more →