BLOOD TRANSFUSION MEDICINE RESEARCH GROUP

BLOOD TRANSFUSION MEDICINE RESEARCH GROUP
DEPARTMENT OF HAEMATOLOGY IMMUNOLOGY
FACULTY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
ENUGU CAMPUS
NAME: BLOOD TRANSFUSION MEDICINE RESEARCH GROUP
INTRODUCTION:
HISTORY:
Blood transfusion history dates back to the 15th century when blind attempts were used to exploit blood as a therapeutic agent. Blood on the sense that as at then the circulatory system was yet to be appreciated and scientific sophistication did not prevail.
The 17th century advanced the science of blood transfusion by Dr. William Harvey’s discovery of circulatory system in 1628. This was exploited by Jean-Baptize Denis, Richard Lower and others and animal to human transfusion came to bear.
Expectedly this encouraged and pared way to human to human transfusion by a British obstetrician who successfully used a husband as a donor to manage the man’s wife of postpartum hemorrhages in the 19th century, albeit with attendant shortfalls of immunological and in festive consequences.
BREAKTHROUGH
The man Karl Landsteiner addressed the 20th century challenges of Blood Transfusion by his discovery of blood group system ABO, which is very relevant in Transfusion medicine since it helped the problem of immunological disparities among donors and recipients.
Having acquired a good measure of knowledge on immunology, the challenge of storage using anticoagulant such as citrate and citrategheose gave a boost to the advancement of transfusion medicine between 1914 – 1916.
There are several contributors to the advancement of transfusion and it
is important to note that contributors cut across discipline of science and
clinical medicine.
Edward Cohn a professor of biological chemistry developed the
fractionation process leading to component ad component therapy around the
middle of 20th century.
By the 1970s the challenge of blood safety had to be focused on with the
emergence of viral, protozal and bacterial transfusion transmissible
diseases/infection.
Emphasis shifted to safety and quality procurement of blood as a therapeutic
agent. Blood transfusion medicine transmuted to discipline status with
specialization and focus on Blood procurement, blood product preparations,
hemotherapy and hemovigillance.
At the base, quality management became a strong feature of transfusion
medicine. By 1984 the identification of Human Immunodeficiency virus as the
cause of Acquired Immunodeficiency disease syndrome, threw up emphasis
and sophistication on blood procurement safety and till date, safety of blood as
therapeutic tool is a paramount challenge at the moment.
JUSTIFICATION:
Given the uncoordinated transfusion medicine practice especially with
the absence of statutory monitoring bodies such as institutional transfusion
committee in most of the health institutions, it becomes important to focus
knowledge and research that will address and help our transfusion practice.
Yesterday it was HIV. By 2005 West Nile virus is capturing the attention of the
developed world while we are still graphing with HIV.
INTENT:
Since Blood Transfusion Medicine is encompassing involving clinical
medicine biochemistry, physiology, immnohaematology and social science there
is the need to harness the compound expertise with an aim to proffer solution
to current day challenges of Blood Transfusion.
RESEARCH FOCUS:
This will be on the network of transfusion involvement ranging from social science of blood donor recruitment to the scientific sophistication of blood storage and preparation protocols to clinical use of blood as well as Haemovigillance.
MEMBERS OF THE BLOOD TRANSFUSION MEDICINE RESEARCH GROUP
UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
1. DR. O.G. Ibegbulam – Coordinator
2. Prof. I.E. Okpala – Member
3. Dr. S. Ocheni – Member
4. Dr. T. Nwagha – Member
5. Dr. A. Madu – Member
6. Dr. Moghalu – Member
7. Mrs. I. Uamai – Member
8. Mrs. Kalu (nurse) – Member
9. Dr. O. Ugwu – Member
10. Mrs. B. Odukwe – Member
11. Mrs. N. Osiri – Member
12. Mrs. Sam Urene – Member
Efforts are being made to recruit wide spectrum of Researchers in disciplines relating to Blood Transfusion Medicine.