The organization had been called the American Association of Blood Banks.
The new name and logo were unveiled to AABB members and attendees at the association’s annual conference, which is being held virtually October 17-19.
The conference includes a plethora of virtual forums, including rooms where attendees can connect with speakers and other attendees online, an exhibit hall, and poster sessions.
In introducing the new name, logo and rebranding, AABB said, the effort “is the culmination of a process that began several years ago with ‘Reimagine AABB,’ a campaign that solicited feedback from the blood and biotherapies community about the future of the association.”
Debra BenAvram, AABB CEO, said the association changed its name to reflect the way the membership has evolved since the association was founded 75 years ago. “We’re no longer limited to America; AABB has members in more than 80 countries. And while blood banks remain vital to the healthcare system in the United States and globally — not to mention being among our association’s most vital institutional members — our members and partners today are leaders in a broader array of professions within the blood and biotherapies fields.”
BenAvram also noted that AABB is working on new endeavors to “make transfusion medicine and biotherapies safe, available and effective worldwide.”
For example, AABB’s National Blood Foundation is preparing plans to fund a wider range of research, including projects by more early career scientists. In addition, “we’re launching a first-of-its-kind biotherapies credential to better support our workforce. And we are creating new technology and initiatives designed to help increase the number of blood donors and maintain a stable blood supply during periods of both crisis and calm,” BenAvram said.
