Veterinary Transfusion Medicine and Hematology

Initiated by an NIH - Transfusion Medicine Academic Award (Giger) investigations over the past decade focused on the genetic, immunologic, and biochemical basis of the blood groups in dogs, cats and wild cats which enabled the development of safe blood compatibility procedures for transfusion medicine and prevention of hemolysis of the newborn in cats. New blood collection and processing procedures for animals were also established and hemoglobin and coagulation instruments were validated for animals. Furthermore, the Section was one of the leading centers of a multicenter study of a bovine-based blood substitute in the treatment of anemia. FDA approval of this first blood substitute was based upon the successful completion of this clinical trial.

Various hereditary and acquired hematologic disorders in dogs and cats were also studied which led to the recognition of new diseases as well as better management of others. Through hemoglobin research in cats, the most complex adult beta globin system of any animal species has been discovered and is being further characterized at the molecular genetic level.