Professor of Pathology Beth Shaz, MD, MBA, presented “Plasma Versus Factor Concentrates” at the 19th International Symposium on Blood Substitutes (ISBS) Nov. 14-18, 2024. Shaz spoke on the different types of plasma, the available factor concentrates, and what studies have demonstrated are better for the treatment of major bleeding. Following the presentation, she led a lively discussion on the topic, including the need for better testing, clinical trials, and patient outcome data.
Shaz also spoke on “Blood Donation and Availability of Rh-Negative Units” at Trauma Hemostasis and Oxygenation Research (THOR) Emergency Transfusion in Females w/ Childbearing Potential: Mitigating the Risks of Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN) Nov. 19-20, 2024. Shaz joined experts in the fields of trauma surgery, emergency medicine, anesthesiology, transfusion medicine, obstetrics, maternal fetal medicine, hematology, pathology, neonatology, and pediatrics for discussion. They made a recommendation for evidence-based guidelines to use group O low-titer whole blood (LTOWB: group O red cells and serum with low antibody titers to groups A and B cells) during emergency transfusions in females of childbearing potential. This focus is on methods to mitigate and manage the risks of HDFN.
In addition to serving as chief of Clinical Pathology, Shaz is a professor of pathology and deputy director of the Marcus Center for Cellular Cures at Duke University. She’s a member of the Duke Cancer Institute and Margolis Institute for Health Policy, past president of the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB) Board of Directors, and a scientific member of Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST Collaborative).
She is an expert in transfusion medicine and cellular therapies, with over 20 years of experience. She is co-director of Duke’s Stem Cell Transplant Laboratory and associate director of the Carolinas Cord Blood Bank, one of the largest public cord blood banks in the world.
Shaz has published about 200 peer-reviewed articles and has co-edited eight books. Her main goals are to improve the health of our community and ensure equal access to safe and efficacious blood and biotherapies.