International Thalassaemia Day 2026
Talking Transfusion Podcast
In honour of International Thalassaemia Day, in this podcast episode, we explore top research relating to transfusion and stem cell transplantation in people with thalassaemia. Our reviewers cover a range of topics including novel oral treatments, different preparations of red blood cell products and allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Introduction
Welcome to the quarterly Transfusion Evidence Round-Up.
This is a collaboration between the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) and the Transfusion Evidence Library (TEL). We aim to highlight high quality evidence randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews about an internationally relevant subject in the field of Transfusion Medicine. All references are drawn from the Transfusion Evidence Library and, where relevant, Stem Cell Evidence.
This Transfusion Evidence Round-Up is sent to ISBT members and TEL subscribers, so if you are a subscriber to both mailing lists and receive it twice please bear with us until we can resolve this.
The Transfusion Evidence Library is produced by the Systematic Review Initiative (SRI) and funded by the four UK blood services. It is available free at the point of access providing a comprehensive and up-to-date database of high quality evidence in Transfusion Medicine.
Top 10 articles
The following 10 articles were selected from the Transfusion Evidence Library by 4 reviewers: Helen Haysom, Ricky Lai, Rishiraj Sinha and Claire Smales.
Top article
Mitapivat in adults with non-transfusion-dependent α-thalassaemia or β-thalassaemia (ENERGIZE): a phase 3, international, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Selected articles
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-primed bone marrow transplantation experience in 350 matched sibling donor grafts for severe thalassemia. Agarwal, R.K., et al. (2025). Transplantation and Cellular Therapy.
Transfusion efficacy of leucoreduced packed red blood cells prepared by two different methods: a randomized controlled trial in transfusion-dependent thalassaemia patients (FUEL trial). Arunkumari, A., et al. (2025). Vox Sanguinis.
Effect of Benson's relaxation technique versus music intervention on physiological parameters and stress of children with thalassemia during blood transfusions: a randomized controlled trial. Badr, E., AIbrahim, H., and Saleh, S.E., (2023). Journal of Pediatric Nursing.
Long-term efficacy and safety of luspatercept for the treatment of anaemia in patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassaemia (BELIEVE): final results from a phase 3 randomised trial. Cappellini, M.D., et al. (2025). The Lancet. Haematology.
Interventions for improving adherence to iron chelation therapy in people with sickle cell disease or thalassaemia. Geneen, L.J., Dorée, C., and Estcourt, L.J., (2023). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Clinical outcomes among patients with sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia treated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a systematic literature review. Nair, R., et al. (2025). Journal of Blood Medicine.
Health-related quality-of-life profile of pediatric patients with β thalassemia after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Mulas, O., et al. (2023). Journal of Clinical Medicine.
Burden of transfusion-transmitted infections among patients with thalassaemia and sickle cell anaemia in India: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Shandilya, V., et al. (2025). Transfusion Medicine.
Efficacy and safety of deferiprone for thalassemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Wilar, G., Suhandi, C., and Kawahata, I. (2025). Systematic Reviews.
Editorial Board
Helen Haysom
Helen Haysom is a Project Coordinator in the Transfusion Research Unit, Monash University. She is an experienced transfusion medicine scientist, having previously held roles in a number of major teaching hospitals in Melbourne as well as the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood. At the Transfusion Research Unit, she administers a number of registries including the Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia (NAIT) and Haemoglobinopathy Registries, and projects such as the True Cost of Transfusion. She is a project officer for the Australian and New Zealand Massive Transfusion Registry, and provides consultancy expertise for the National Transfusion Dataset and the Thrombotic Microangiopathies Registry projects.
Ricky Lai
Ricky Lai is a scientist at the Red Cell Reference Laboratory at Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, specialising in complex immunohaematology investigations and advanced serological problem-solving to support patient care. His work focuses on resolving challenging antibody cases and translating laboratory findings into clinically relevant recommendations, with a strong interest in red cell serology and transfusion safety.
Rishiraj Sinha
Dr Rishiraj Sinha is a Senior Resident Doctor at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India specialised in Transfusion Medicine with a 5.5-year MBBS program followed by a three-year MD residency at one of India's leading medical institutions at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal. His mission is to guide and educate physicians and develop in-depth skills in transfusion medicine, expertise to treat patients, and support other physicians and technical staff in delivering optimal transfusion medicine-related care and also the transfusion medicine physicians in training focus on implementing their knowledge in support of direct and indirect patient and donor care. He is eager to engage in clinical and research activities, particularly in areas such as immunohaematology, transfusion safety, apheresis, and novel therapies like stem cell transplantation, where his enthusiasm and experience can contribute to innovative advancements in the field.
Claire Smales
Claire Smales is a pharmaceutical sciences honours student, studying at RMIT University. Her honours placement is at the Transfusion Research Unit, Monash University, where she is directly exposed to clinical research. Claire is enjoying learning about blood conditions, as well as gaining first-hand insight into registries and clinical trials. She has a strong interest in pharmacology, especially drug development and toxicology, which she developed throughout her undergraduate degree. She is focusing her honours research on curative treatments for Sickle Cell Disease.
Allison Mo
Catherine Kimber
Susan Brunskill
Systematic Research Initiative
The Systematic Review Initiative (SRI) is a clinical research group established in 2001 by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and funded by the UK Blood Services. The primary objective of the SRI is to “develop the evidence base for the practice of transfusion medicine”, by undertaking systematic reviews and other evidence-based medicine research projects in the transfusion field. @sritransfusion
Transfusion Evidence Library
Stem Cell Evidence
Stem Cell Evidence is a comprehensive collection of high quality research relevant to haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, updated monthly. The most important articles in the field are highlighted in the Stem Cell Evidence Alert which is a newsletter emailed to subscribers. Stem Cell Evidence aims to be a key resource worldwide for medical practitioners, clinical researchers and policy makers. It is also intended to be of value to those planning new clinical trials in the field. It is produced by the Systematic Review Initiative and funded by the UK Blood Services and Oxford Biomedical Research Centre.
