Program Manager: COL Geoffrey Ling, M.D., Ph.D.
 The goal of the Long-Term Storage of Blood Products Program is to increase the survival of warfighters after injury and reduce the logistics/support required to provide medical support at all levels of care. To accomplish this goal, mechanisms of blood cell survival have been studied in natural systems, and this information is being used to drive the development of blood products that can survive the austere conditions of forward deployment.
The primary objective of this program is to reduce the logistics burden of blood products for their use during critical periods of need. This program has already demonstrated the room temperature survival of freeze-dried blood platelets for more than two years, and hopes to transition the knowledge gained from this effort into the military medical Services.
Accomplishments of this program include—
- Development of freeze-dried platelet product: The program has developed a product that, after freeze-drying and reconstitution, maintains the characteristics of fresh platelets. The freeze-dried product is biochemically comparable in vivo, and retains clotting function and prevent blood loss in an animal model.
- Technology transition: Performers on the program have established Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and will transition into studies to demonstrate safety and efficacy for the military and FDA in FY08.
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