Our Blood Institute: Understanding the Crucial Role of Blood Donation Centers
In the face of a recent emergency blood shortage declared by Our Blood Institute, on January 16th, blood donation centers play a critical role in ensuring a steady supply of blood for medical treatments and procedures. OBI, led by CEO Dr. John Armitage, has been actively addressing challenges amid the ongoing shortage.
The recent blood shortage, reaching a record low in the last two decades, has been intensified by severe winter weather throughout the Sooner State. Icy roads and challenging conditions have led to a surge in donor cancellations, posing a significant threat to the available blood supply.
In times of shortages, we must reflect on the importance of blood donation centers.
Dr. Armitage emphasizes the importance of blood drives as not only vital for medical needs but also as a space for community gathering and sociability.
He notes, "Our role is to be a place for people to gather and have fun. If you’ve ever been to a really good blood drive, it’s a place of sociability and fun."
Dr. John Armitage, CEO of Our Blood Institute
Origins and Connections
Reflecting on the origins of OBI, Dr. Armitage highlights its unique inception, emerging from the collaboration of doctors in the community and the County Medical Society. This close connection to the medical mission has been a driving force for the institute, aligning its focus with healthcare, job creation, and biotech advancements.
Armitage stresses the significance of relationships in the institute's operations. "At the end of the day, it's relationships. What do people care about? And we're working very hard to try and build deeper relationships."
He mentions current efforts to engage doctor coordinators, individuals who organize blood drives, in activities beyond the standard drives, expanding the institute's reach.
Biotech Advancements and Beyond
While blood transfusion remains a fundamental aspect of their services, Dr. Armitage outlines the institute's foray into advanced biotech arenas and cutting-edge care. He states, "We produce an FDA-regulated drug. So, we're moving into the advanced arenas, cutting-edge care."
OBI extends its reach to cell therapy. This involves the extraction and reprogramming of immune cells, often white blood cells, to endow them with enhanced capabilities.
A key distinction arises between traditional drug-based therapies, characterized by molecular synthetics, and the emergent era of protein therapeutics, where the body's immune system proteins, specifically antibodies, are harnessed to target and eliminate harmful elements.
Armitage explains that a current lack of market presence suggests that regenerative medicine is poised for a groundbreaking future.
Empowering Donors in Medical Discoveries
Dr. Armitage expresses a vision where donors go beyond aiding in medical care to becoming integral to biological discoveries and cures. "With this, our donors can be part of not only the care but the cure, maybe their biology discovery." The institute is conducting studies on genetics, with over 20,000 donors already participating in the registry.
While OBI faces the challenges of a blood shortage, it remains dedicated to its mission of not only providing essential medical resources but also fostering community connections and advancing the frontiers of biotechnology.
BioLinked, a startup founded by OBI, secured a $7.1 million award to join Scripps Research's consortium for the All of Us Research Program. This funding will aid BioLinked in expanding the program's blood center network, with the potential for annual renewals for four years.
The All of Us Research Program, led by the National Institutes of Health, aims to engage one million diverse participants to accelerate health research and improve equity. OBI, as the parent organization, will be the first blood center partner under BioLinked's subaward through Scripps.
With 16 donor centers across three states, OBI is the sixth-largest independent blood center in the U.S., serving over 240 hospitals.
In facing the challenges of a blood shortage, OBI continues its mission with resilience, demonstrating that its impact extends far beyond the immediate needs for medical care into the realms of community, innovation, and the future of healthcare.