"The history of blood transfusion is a fabulous human adventure in

the course of which intentional and fortuitous conjunction of medical

and scientific know-how resulted in the birth of a new medical

discipline. The extraordinary revelation of these successive stages

in which applied research predominated was the unsuspected potential

of blood and bone marrow cells. This potential extends to a great

number of pathologies, many of which are outside the field of hematology.

Pursuing the development of this therapeutic potential is the

challenge to be taken up in the next decade. No matter what complex

technologies are called into play to this purpose, the donor

remains the essential actor, as he has been since the beginning of

this story. Therefore, continued medical and scientific progress in

this field must go hand in hand with unrelenting ethical reflection."

After a detailed description of discoveries in the field of transfusion, and of their applications over the

past three decades, the book deals with all the questions that will determine the future of transfusion:

-

transfusion safety , based on better controls, and on the introduction of new therapeutic models and

innovative methods of analysis, particularly future applications of nanotechnologies for biologic testing

of donations;

- projects related to emerging biotechnologies , some of which are already in progress, and which offer

significant possibilities for transfusion: ex vivo production of blood cells, preservation of blood products

thanks to the development of hematopoietic cytokines, reduction of the immunogenicity of labile blood

products and creation of universal red cells, new collection techniques, blood cell substitutes...

- challenges of cell and tissue engineering as part of the activities of transfusion medicine, dedicated

to mastering and managing cell samples, regardless of their origin. All cellular therapy strategies are examined

in this section: the legal status of the cell, its therapeutic potential for reconstruction medicine,

production of vectors for gene transfer...

- finally, the last section of the book considers the evolution of transfusion in its sociologic, ethical and

cultural context, and ends with a vision of the transfusion of the future , given present advances considered

relevant.