Versiti - Versiti Blood Research Institute
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Who We Are

The Versiti Blood Research Institute is a beacon of scientific discovery in blood health. We are a collaborative community of researchers, innovators, and physician-scientists united by a singular mission: transforming scientific breakthroughs into treatments that heal and hope that endures.

What We Do

The Versiti Blood Research Institute is a beacon of scientific discovery in blood health. We are a collaborative community of researchers, innovators, and physician-scientists united by a singular mission: transforming scientific breakthroughs into treatments that heal and hope that endures.

Reseacher closing a sample.

State of the Art Facility

Basic research is housed at Versiti Blood Research Institute (VBRI), a state-of-the-art facility that gives investigators access to cutting-edge research equipment and related specialized services. VBRI is located on the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center campus, along with the Medical College of Wisconsin, Froedtert Hospital and Children’s Wisconsin.

Two researchers having a conversation.

Collaborative Research

Versiti Blood Research Institute combines strong internal expertise with a local network of healthcare and research partners. Our Medical Sciences Institute connects clinical scientists for collaborative translational research, while our contract research team supports industry partners on custom projects that advance new drugs, products, and services.

What We Research

Transfusion Medicine, Vascular Biology & Cellular Therapy

Engineering the future of blood health through advanced transfusion medicine, vascular biology research, and novel cellular therapies. Discover our RNA and stem cell innovations.

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Researcher holding glass histology slides. Researcher holding glass histology slides.

Thrombosis & Hemostasis

Clotting and bleeding disorders affect millions, from stroke and heart attack to hemophilia and von Willebrand disease. VBRI’s Thrombosis & Hemostasis program studies how clots form, why they form in the wrong places, and why some patients bleed. We translate molecular insights into better diagnostics and new treatment options.

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Computer generated 3D illustration of plaque in an artery. Computer generated 3D illustration of plaque in an artery.

Hematopoiesis & Immunology

Every blood cell starts as a stem cell, and every immune response depends on precise cellular decisions. VBRI’s Hematopoiesis & Immunology program studies how blood and immune cells develop, and what happens when those processes break down. This molecular research helps advance new approaches for blood cancers, autoimmune disease, and immune disorders.

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Computer generated virus cells on a scientific background. Computer generated virus cells on a scientific background.

Translational Hematology

Translational research turns what we learn in the lab into better care. VBRI’s Translational Hematology program brings clinician-scientists together to study blood disorders based on real patient needs. From epidemiology and diagnostics to clinical trials like VENUS and national transfusion work through REDS-IV-P, we advance safer, more effective treatment.

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A researcher and smiling cancer patient looking at a laptop screen. A researcher and smiling cancer patient looking at a laptop screen.

Gia Danninger

Gia Danninger

Gia was diagnosed with aplastic anemia at 5 years old and received blood transfusions to prepare her body for a bone marrow transplant. Now 11, she’s doing well and her mother, Jenna, is grateful to everyone who helped her daughter.

Read Gia's Story

Sridhar Rao, MD, PhD

Dr. Sid Rao in his lab having a conversation with a team member.

Stretches of DNA that don't code for proteins still control whether cells become healthy blood or deadly leukemia. We study these molecular switches and how they regulate genes in blood stem cells. Understanding what flips these switches in disease helps us develop precise therapies with fewer side effects.

Dr. Rao's Research

Mary Ferguson

Mary Ferguson

Mary has antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), an autoimmune disease that causes blood clots to form throughout her body. She receives treatment from Versiti’s Lisa Baumann Kreuziger, MD, MS, and credits her with saving her life.

Read Her Story

Featured News

MACC Fund Commits $11.5 Million To Support Pediactric Cancer Research

MACC Fund Commits $11.5 Million to Propel Pediatric Cancer Research at Versiti Blood Research Institute

Article March 3, 2026

The MACC Fund has committed $11.5 million to advance pediatric cancer research at the Versiti Blood Research Institute, strengthening a long-standing partnership dedicated to improving outcomes for children facing leukemia and other blood disorders.

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VBRI Senior Investigator Prithu Sundd, PhD, Publishes Breakthrough Study on Lung Thrombosis

Article March 9, 2026

A Nature Communications study led by Prithu Sundd, PhD, shows how a CD39 gene variant may raise lung thrombosis risk in sickle cell disease and could help guide future precision therapies.

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Eight VBRI Scientists Earn Recognition on Stanford and Elsevier’s Top 2% List

Article March 2, 2026

Eight Versiti Blood Research Institute scientists earned spots on Stanford and Elsevier’s World’s Top 2% Scientists list in the latest update—showing their hematology research is shaping science and patient care worldwide. Meet the investigators behind the impact.

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