Award recognizes extraordinary contributions to health care and advancement of AABB’s mission
NEW YORK, NY – New York Blood Center Enterprises (NYBCe) is proud to announce that Karina Yazdanbakhsh, PhD, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of its Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute (LFKRI), has been named a 2026 recipient of the prestigious Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB) President’s Award. Dr. Yazdanbakhsh was recognized during the AABB Annual Meeting held in Atlanta, Georgia Oct. 17 – 19, 2026.
AABB, an international nonprofit organization representing individuals and institutions in transfusion medicine and biotherapies, presents its President’s Award to individuals and organizations whose extraordinary public service and contributions to health care advance AABB’s mission.
Dr. Yazdanbakhsh was recognized “for pioneering discoveries that have advanced the understanding of alloimmunization, sickle cell disease and transfusion immunology.”
An accomplished researcher and leader in transfusion medicine, Dr. Yazdanbakhsh has dedicated her career to advancing the understanding of immune responses to blood transfusions and improving outcomes for patients with hematologic disorders, including sickle cell disease. She also leads LFKRI’s Laboratory of Complement Biology, where her research explores the immune mechanisms underlying blood disorders and transfusion-related complications.
“Dr. Yazdanbakhsh’s contributions to transfusion medicine and scientific discovery exemplify the innovation and excellence at the heart of our mission,” said Larry Luchsinger, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer. “Her leadership and dedication to improving patient outcomes have made a meaningful impact on the field, and we are incredibly proud to see her recognized with this distinguished honor.”
Dr. Yazdanbakhsh has received numerous research honors, including the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Outstanding Investigator Award, and serves in scientific leadership and advisory roles across the transfusion medicine and hematology communities.