CONTACT INFORMATIONBIOGRAPHYCREDENTIALSAWARDSPUBLICATIONSNeil Blumberg, M.D.Contact InformationPhone NumbersOffice: (585) 275-3189Fax: (585) 273-3002A member of the University of Rochester Medical Faculty GroupgroupAn Accountable Health PartnerassignmentAccepting New PatientsLocationsUniversity of Rochester Medical CenterSchool of Medicine and Dentistry601 Elmwood Ave, Box 608Rochester, NY 14642Faculty AppointmentsProfessor - Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (SMD) Patient Care SettingPathologyBiographyDirector of the Transfusion Medicine Unit, Blood Bank, and Stem Cell Storage Facility since 1980. An expert in the field of blood transfusion immunology, Dr. Blumberg has worked to enhance the quality, safety, and efficiency of transfusion services at Strong Memorial Hospital and across the broader medical community. His long-standing clinical and research foci are immune cytopenias, supportive care for patients with hematologic malignancies, and the immunologic sequela of transfusion therapy.ResearchBlood transfusions are known to be broadly immunomodulatory and are associated with substantially poorer clinical outcomes in surgical and cancer patients, and better outcomes in solid organ allograft recipients. Our laboratory and clinical group has been interested for the last twenty years in the disparate effects of autologous and allogeneic transfusions on immune function, as well as the potential benefits of removing allogeneic white cells and stored supernatant plasma from blood components before transfusions. Our studies demonstrated that patients receiving leukocyte-reduced allogeneic blood transfusions for leukemia, and those receiving leukocyte-reduced allogeneic or autologous transfusions during surgical procedures, experienced reduced morbidity and mortality compared with patients receiving unmodified allogeneic transfusions. We were the first to document that one likely mechanism for these benefits is that allogeneic transfusions promote type 2 (Th2) cellular immunity and down regulate type 1 (Th1) immunity. Leukoreduction or use of autologous transfusions reduces these immunologic effects. We also have pioneered clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness analyses in the study of transfusion immunomodulation. Transfusions, however, can also promote inflammatory processes. Platelet transfusions are associated with a dose dependent increase in multi-organ failure syndrome in surgical patients. Work done in collaboration with Dr. Rick Phipps's laboratory has shown that stored platelet transfusion supernatant promotes cellular secretion of PGE2 , IL6 and IL8 in vitro through a soluble CD40L dependent mechanism. Current investigations include clinical and laboratory studies of the effects of stored platelet supernatant CD40L on clinical outcomes and in vitro immunologic function. We are also exploring the possible use of autologous stored platelet supernatant for immunotherapeutic use.CredentialsEducation1975MD | Yale University School of MedicinePost-doctoral Training & Residency07/01/1976 - 06/30/1978Residency in Laboratory Medicine at Yale University -New Haven Hospital07/01/1975 - 06/30/1976Internship in Laboratory Medicine at Yale University -New Haven HospitalAwards2008 - 2012Editorial Board MemberSponsor: BLOODLocation: Washington, DC2005 - 2018Co-Chair REDS III and Chair REDS II Data Monitoring CommitteeSponsor: NIH-National Heart, Lung and Blood InstituteLocation: Bethesda, MD1990 - PresentEditorial Board MemberSponsor: TRANSFUSIONLocation: Washington, DC1971 - 1974NIH Medical Scientist Training Grant Fellowship1970BS, Yale, Magna cum laude1969Phi Beta Kappa1966 - 1970National Merit Scholarship ProgramSponsor: National Merit Scholarship ProgramVIEW ALL expand_morePublicationsJournal Articles12/21/2020Turgeman A, McRae HL, Cahill C, Blumberg N, Refaai MA. "Impact of RBC Transfusion on Peripheral Capillary Oxygen Saturation and Partial Pressure of Arterial Oxygen." American journal of clinical pathology.. 2020 Dec 21; Epub 2020 Dec 21. 12/2020Ngo A, Masel D, Cahill C, Blumberg N, Refaai MA. "Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic." Clinics in laboratory medicine.. 2020 Dec 0; 40(4):587-601. Epub 2020 Aug 08. 9/23/2020McRae HL, Kara F, Milito C, Cahill C, Blumberg N, Refaai MA. "Whole blood haemostatic function throughout a 28-day cold storage period: an in vitro study." Vox sanguinis.. 2020 Sep 23; Epub 2020 Sep 23. Books & Chapters2006 Chapter Title: Clinical Use of Plasma and Plasma Fractions Book Title: Best Practice and Research in Clinical Haematology Author List: Blumberg, N.; Francis CW.; Heal JM.; Edited By: Blumberg, N.; Francis CW.; Heal JM.; Published By: Elsevier 2006 in UK2006 Chapter Title: Transfusion immunomodulation Book Title: Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine: Basic Principles and Practice Author List: Blumberg N.; Heal JM. Published By: Churchill-Livingstone 20062005 Chapter Title: Immunomodulation by Transfusion Book Title: Perioperative Transfusion Medicine Author List: Blumberg, N.; Heal JM. Edited By: Spiess, B. Published By: Lippincott 2005VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS