America’s Blood Centers (ABC) member Vitalant recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the Vitalant Innovation Center. According to a news release from the organization, the Innovation Center is “the first of its kind in the U.S.” and will serve as a facility “where innovative blood center equipment and processes can be tested outside of normal operations, advancing the science of transfusion medicine and research.”
The building, located in Denver, Colo. sitting adjacent to the Vitalant Research Institute and Vitalant’s Denver blood center, “is nearly 5,000 square feet, including a 3,200-square-foot flexible lab space to pilot new technologies and processes. The facility, primarily funded by a generous $8 million Bonfils Blood Center Donor Advised Fund donation, has 19 full-time employees.” Vitalant Chief Executive Officer Dave Green explained in the news release, “blood centers have an iconic history, emerging after World War II to meet the transfusion needs of patients. While modern blood services have changed tremendously over the last 80 years, there is an opportunity to pursue innovative services and lifesaving blood-derived products at a greater pace. The Vitalant Innovation Center represents our commitment to forging advancements in transfusion medicine to help save and sustain more lives.” Susanne Marschner, PhD, vice president of research and scientific programs at Vitalant Innovation Center, added in the news release, “[t]he Innovation Center provides a much-needed ‘sandbox’ to advance cutting-edge developments and bring new products to Vitalant and the blood services industry. We also look forward to partnering with like-minded organizations to support their research and development needs with our capabilities.” The Innovation Center includes “blood center process and equipment testing; cell sourcing; pre-clinical testing; clinical trial supply; [and a] biorepository with the capacity to securely store up to 1.5 million samples.”