At the start of the Russia-Ukraine War, Ukraine was hit with a 40% surge in demand for blood for its civilians and military personnel. Despite damaged healthcare facilities, supply-chain disruptions and population displacement, the country maintained a self-sufficient blood supply by centralizing operations and expanding donor recruitment, according to a new international study that included scientists from Northwestern University.  The findings come as the American Red Cross recently declared its second-ever national blood crisis, underscoring the importance of resilient blood collection and distribution systems. The study authors noted that Ukraine’s experience offers lessons for other countries, including the U.S., where strategies such as extended blood center hours and social media-based donor recruitment could help maintain blood supplies during emergencies. 

To advance collaborative discovery and support the next generation of research leaders, University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have jointly awarded funding to six research teams through the 2026 Collaborative Science Pilot Awards.  Each project received $50,000 for a year of funding. Since launching in 2023, the program has supported 14 research teams with a total investment of $700,000.