June Philanthropy Update
Did you know San Diego Blood Bank (SDBB) collaborates with over 100 research partners to advance health?
SDBB’s Cell Therapy Laboratory team is proud to announce the first cell therapy product shipment to a local clinic of Angiocrine Bioscience’s AB-205 investigational cellular product. AB-205 is a novel, experimental, cellular therapy intended for the treatment of toxicities related to high-dose chemotherapy with or without radiation.
Angiocrine’s AB-205-001 clinical study is a first-in-human, open-label, non-randomized, safety study of AB-205 in patients with relapsed, chemo-sensitive, non-Hodgkin lymphoma or Hodgkin lymphoma who are undergoing high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation.
AB-205 is composed of endothelial cells genetically modified using Angiocrine’s E-CEL® patented technology. The AB-205 production begins with the donation of umbilical cords from mothers delivering at local hospitals. This process is managed by SDBB collection coordinators, who obtain consent from moms interested in donating and delivering at Scripps Memorial hospital, and, in the future, additional hospitals.
Once the tissue is collected, the research nurses transport the tissue to SDBB / Angiocrine manufacturing team. Cells are isolated, genetically modified and cultured to propagate large cell banks, from which clinical product is produced, and stored in liquid nitrogen. The cell products’ identity is confirmed by the flow cytometry team at the SDBB clinical research laboratory, and safety determined by outsourced analytical test laboratories.
To date, the team has produced 4 master cell banks and 4 clinical product lots. We are proud of the SDBB/Angiocrine manufacturing team for their efforts in producing the first in kind cell treatment to help patients recover from standard chemotherapeutic cancer treatments.
Philanthropy impacts every aspect of our mission from funding critical resources for blood transfusions to advancing research, together, we give life and hope for the thousands of patient lives each year.
With gratitude,
David Wellis, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Sherry Serio
Vice President of Development
Team SURVIVOR
AIDAN GOOD
15-year-old Aidan Good was diagnosed with a fatal heart defect when he was 4 years old. He received a heart transplant and required multiple blood transfusions during surgery. He was back at the hospital in the summer of 2016 receiving treatment, including plasma transfusions due to his body rejecting his heart transplant.
By the end of the year, he had seven heart biopsies, each requiring blood in the room in case he needed it. Additionally, Aidan underwent three brain surgeries in 2016 to remove a tumor to treat his seizures.
Today, Aidan is a budding guitarist and he’s learning to surf. He and his family are grateful for blood and financial donors.
Watch a special message from Aidan’s dad.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
Amarah Good presents Sherry Serio, Vice President of Development, SDBB, with a $1,000 check.
On June 10, a very special $1,000 donation was presented to San Diego Blood Bank by Aidan Good’s 16-year-old sister, Amarah Good.
How did Amarah make such a donation? As a 4-H member, she chose to donate 20% of proceeds from her steer project (sold via virtual auction this year). She wanted to do something to support the organization that supported her family.
The gift will help fund a Trima system, a critical resource that separates, spins, and collects blood donation in three components – red blood cells, plasma, and platelets. A Trima systems has also played a vital role to collect convalescent plasma from donors who have recovered from COVID-19. Thank you, Amarah!
Amarah smiles with her her brother and blood recipient, Aidan Good.
Health & Wellness
To stay connected to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention latest COVID-19 health updates click here.
Featured Funding Priority
TWO BLOODMOBILES
One of four bloodmobiles is parked and ready at the 4th Annual Padres Summer Blood Drive.
Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. One in seven patients entering a hospital will need a blood transfusion. Blood is life. One of the major ways this is possible is through bloodmobile drives, which collect more than 60,000 pints each year.
Currently, two bloodmobiles must be replaced this year. These buses are over 15 years old, have reached their lifespan, and will no longer meet California emissions standards in the near future. The design and construction of two bloodmobiles must be completed by December 2020.
Impact of Bloodmobiles
Bloodmobiles are vital resources with state-of-the-art technology that help our mobile blood drives collect more than 50% of our annual blood supply.
Bloodmobiles make blood donation convenient and comfortable for donors.
From 2018-19, 2,065 mobile blood drives collected more than 60,000 pints of lifesaving blood—impacting up to 180,000 lives.
One bloodmobile can collect up to 7,000 pints of blood each year.
Over the 15-year lifespan of one bloodmobile, more than 100,000 pints will be collected impacting over 300,000 lives — times that by two and together, we can save up to 600,000 lives
Bloodmobile BUDGET
$1M to purchase two new bloodmobiles
$500,000 cost of each bloodmobile
Raised to date: $450,000
If you would like to make a gift or would like additional information, please contact Sherry Serio, Vice President of Development, at (619) 400-8818 or sserio@sandiegobloodbank.org.
SDBB Foundation
To learn how SDBB impacts research, and health and wellness of our community, watch below:
Make a gift
MONTHLY GIVING — Did you know that you can join our Visionary Circle by making a monthly gift to help sustain SDBB for the next 70 years? Monthly gifts fund SDBB’s annual greatest need.
GIFTS OF STOCK — Did you know San Diego Blood Bank Foundation accepts appreciated gifts of stock with tax benefits for the donor? For more information on how to donate your stock, please contact Sherry Serio, Vice President of Development, at 619-400-8818 or sserio@sdbb.org.
MATCHING GIFTS — Ask your employer if your company has an employee matching program. Double your impact and encourage corporate giving to local nonprofits like SDBB.
COMMUNITY AND DIY FUNDRAISING — Partner with SDBB and fundraise with your company, team or for a special event and give back to SDBB! Donate your birthday with a Facebook fundraiser or join our SDBB Ambassador program to help crowdfund the purchase of Trima systems. Contact Cherryl Castro-Lector, Development Manager at cclector@sdbb.org.
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THANK YOU TO OUR TOP SPONSORS
NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
In partnership with our community, San Diego Blood Bank Foundation is the fundraising entity that supports critical resources for blood donations, advances San Diego Blood Bank’s critical healthcare role, and fuels collaboration with cutting-edge research and clinical organizations to advance cell therapy and precision medicine.
