People

Dr. Francis’ research has mainly focused on the contribution of oxidative stress to the pathophysiological changes in red blood cells that occur during refrigerated storage, with an emphasis on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in blood donors.

Dr. Hudson’s research focuses on understanding the immune response to red blood cells (RBCs), which can be targeted for destruction by antibodies, causing severe morbidity and mortality. Her group investigates the mechanisms behind the production of RBC-specific antibodies, both autoantibodies and alloantibodies, with the goal of developing novel therapies or prophylactic strategies for patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) or are exposed to RBC alloantigens through blood transfusion or pregnancy.

Dr. Spitalnik’s interests initially focused on glycobiology, particularly the biosynthesis and immunology of glycoproteins and glycolipids. Over the last 20 years, he has used cell culture, mouse models, and studies of human volunteers and patients to investigate the consequences of RBC clearance, particularly following transfusions of refrigerator storage-damaged RBCs, during hemolytic transfusion reactions, in G6PD-deficiency, and in malaria. He is also interested in the effects of oxidative stress and iron biology on RBC resilience in vivo and in vitro. Finally, he participates in efforts to eradicate Rh disease, serving as Executive Director of the Worldwide Initiative for Rh Disease Eradication.

Dr. Thomas is an expert in lipid metabolism and RBC metabolism. Her research uses advanced analytical techniques such as stable isotopes and mass spectrometry to understand the relationship between lifestyle factors ,such as diet and exercise, on RBC metabolism and function. Dr. Thomas also serves as the Medical Director of the NYP/CUIMC Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, applying her expertise in biochemistry to diagnose metabolic disorders. Through her research, teaching, and clinical activities, Dr. Thomas contributes to the field of transfusion biology and advances our understanding of exercise and lipid metabolism's role in blood quality and overall health.

Dr. Flavia Dei Zotti received her PhD in Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences from UCLouvain, Belgium where she focused on cardiovascular biology. Now as a postdoctoral researcher in the Hudson group, she studies how failure of T cells tolerance to red blood cell antigens leads to autoimmunity.

Daysha is a graduate of Columbia University with a BA in Neuroscience. Her undergraduate research includes work with the Center for Advanced Laboratory Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Her current research interests include the study of transfusion biology and medicine specifically focused on sickle cell anemia, chronic blood transfusions and red blood cell quality.

Adeyemi is a graduate of the College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology (2019). Following graduation, he went on to complete a Master of Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (2021), where he focused on health promotion & disease prevention and additionally researched how COVID-19 exposure impacted Residents and Fellows during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Adeyemi joined the Laboratory of Transfusion Biology in 2022 as a Clinical Research Coordinator and plans to attend Medical School in the near future.  

Dominique is a graduate from Lafayette College with a BS in Neuroscience. Nika studied platelet biology, the application of animal models to platelet transfusion, and malaria infection as a laboratory technician under Dr. Stone. Dominique will begin her MD/PhD at Temple University in the fall of 2023.

Chiara has an MSc. in Medical Biotechnologies (First Class Honours) from Catholic University Rome (Italy) along with PhD in Molecular Oncology from Cardiff University (UK). She completed her Postdoc in the Laboratory of Transfusion Biology in 2021 and moved back to Oxford to work as a scientist on cancer vaccines development in the private sector.