News | Taiwan Blood Services Foundation ESG

       The 2025 AABB Annual Meeting was held from October 25 to 28 in San Diego, USA, bringing together more than 3,500 participants from around the world. The Taiwan Blood Services Foundation was honored to take part in this event, led by CEO Wang Tsung-Hsi, together with Director Lin Kuan-Chou of the Taichung Blood Center, Director Hsieh Chia-Hung of the Information Department, Section Chief Chen Ming-Hung of the Technical Division at the Taipei Blood Center, Section Chief Yeh Cheng-Hung of the Business Division at the Kaohsiung Blood Center, Public Relations Officer Tu Wen-Ching, Associate Researcher Chen Yun-Yuan from the Research Department, and Medical Technologist Lin Huan-Chi. During the meeting, Yeh Cheng-Hung and Tu Wen-Ching respectively presented research reports titled “Enhancing Blood Collection and Supply Operations with Real-Time Business Intelligence Tools” and “Implementing On-Site Real-Time Surveys to Strengthen Blood Donation Services.”


Delegation of the Taiwan Blood Services Foundation attending the AABB Annual Meeting. From left to right: Chen Ming-Hung, Section Chief of the Technical Division at the Taipei Blood Center; Yeh Cheng-Hung, Section Chief of the Business Division at the Kaohsiung Blood Center; Lin Huan-Chi, Medical Technologist from the Research Department; Tu Wen-Ching, Public Relations Officer; CEO Wang Tsung-Hsi; Chen Yun-Yuan, Associate Researcher from the Research Department; Lin Kuan-Chou, Director of the Taichung Blood Center; and Hsieh Chia-Hung, Director of the Information Department.

       AABB has long been one of the most important conferences regularly attended by the Taiwan Blood Services Foundation and a key source of new knowledge for the continued advancement of blood services. Formerly known in full as the American Association of Blood Banks, AABB has, over time, not only transformed the field of blood banking but also driven the development of cellular therapies. To reflect its past and present while connecting to the future, AABB was renamed in 2021 as the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies. In addition to establishing standards and guidelines for blood services, the association has expanded into stem cell and cellular therapy fields. The opening ceremony of the 2025 Annual Meeting featured Tom Whitehead, the father of Emily Whitehead—the first patient in the world to be successfully cured of acute lymphoblastic leukemia through CAR-T therapy (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy). He shared Emily’s journey from diagnosis and relapse to recovery after CAR-T treatment. The heartfelt story moved the audience and offered a glimpse into what the new era of AABB may bring in the future.
 
       The AABB Annual Meeting offered not only an enrichment of knowledge but also a physical challenge. The entire delegation participated in the “Run for Research” event, a 5-kilometer run along the San Diego waterfront. With pleasant weather and a cool, comfortable climate, participants enjoyed the run, and refreshments prepared by the organizers at the finish line helped energize everyone for the upcoming conference activities.

 
At the “Run for Research” event, the delegation’s photo at the finish line was selected as a featured image by the AABB Annual Meeting; after completing the run, team members headed straight to the conference venue to begin the sessions.

       Participation in AABB would not be complete without attending its wide array of outstanding educational sessions, with more than 125 courses offered. The application of AI and the automation of blood donation and supply operations are progressing steadily, and this year’s AABB showcased experience-sharing from benchmark blood centers as well as platforms facilitating automated operations. To address the impact of population aging and declining birth rates on blood supply, it is essential not only to modernize donor recruitment strategies but also to continue promoting patient blood management. The AABB meeting presented diverse approaches to donor recruitment and patient blood management, while also considering ethical aspects. Blood donation and supply during disasters and challenging environments has become a prominent topic in recent years, particularly highlighted during the global COVID-19 pandemic when clinical blood use faced severe challenges. AABB also held dedicated sessions on preparedness for future pandemics. Regarding disaster scenarios, ensuring that patients receive timely transfusions is critical to survival. Accordingly, the AABB conference featured a series of topics including prehospital transfusion, low-titer group O whole blood, methods to extend platelet shelf life, and room-temperature-stable dried plasma—all aimed at maximizing the effectiveness of blood therapy under difficult conditions. Through active participation in international conferences, the Foundation hopes to apply these insights to continuously enhance patient safety in Taiwan’s blood services and contribute to the advancement of the healthcare environment.