Army funds pathogen/blood trials

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LAKEWOOD, Colo., July 10 (UPI) -- Two collaborative, clinical trials on a method to reduce the risk of infectious disease transmission have been given a $3.5 million grant by the U.S. Army.

Colorado-based Terumo BCT said the grant will fund continued work on its Mirasol System on pathogen reduction and leukocyte-related transfusion reactions and also pre-clinical work that will be performed to evaluate platelet and plasma function in vitro and in vivo, as well as studies of parasite reduction.

The studies are being conducted in Europe as well as in the United States.

"Terumo BCT is deeply honored to accept this grant as we believe the output of this collaborative, international research program will have a profound impact on the advancement of knowledge in pathogen reduction and will help give rise to a new way to process whole blood in combat areas," said Raymond Goodrich, Terumo BCT's vice president of scientific and clinical affairs.

"This technology has the potential to address both military and civilian transfusion applications. As has been the case historically, it is often advances made in military medicine that eventually evolve into new ways to treat civilian patients."

The length of the grant is three years.

Terumo BCT describes itself as "a global leader in blood component, therapeutic apheresis and cellular technologies."