Versiti - Brian Curtis, PhD | Versiti Blood Research Institute

Brian Curtis, PhD, D(ABMLI), MT(ASCP) SBB

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Brian Curtis, PhD, D(ABMLI), MT(ASCP) SBB

Senior Director, Diagnostic Hematology, Senior Investigator

Hematology

Director, Platelet & Neutrophil Immunology Lab
Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin

Senior Investigator
Versiti Blood Research Institute

Adjunct Faculty
Clinical and Translational Science Institute
Medical College of Wisconsin

Education and Training

Doctoral Training
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, PhD, 2010

Board Certifications

Medical Technology (MT), American Society of Clinical Pathologists (1986)
Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) American Society of Clinical Pathologists (1991)
Diplomat, American Board of Medical Laboratory Immunology D(ABMLI) (2012)

Contact Information
  • 414-937-6255
  • 414-937-6255
  • Transfusion Medicine

    The focus of my lab’s research is on detection and characterization of platelet and neutrophil-reactive antibodies and antigens and studies of the glycoproteins that carry these antigens. The primary goal is to apply the results of this work to develop new and improved clinical tests for use by the Diagnostic Laboratories at Blood Center of Wisconsin. 

    Drug-Dependent Platelet Antibodies

    Some people develop antibodies against their platelets, red blood cells, or white blood cells following receipt of medications. Our Platelet & Neutrophil Immunology Reference Lab currently tests for drug-dependent platelet and white blood cell antibodies, and to date, we have identified drug-dependent antibodies in patients’ blood samples for over 60 drugs, including vancomycin, sulfa-drugs, beta-lactam antibiotics, and even over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and Tylenol (view complete list). We currently have laboratory and clinical studies in progress, together with researchers at BRI, to better understand the formation of drug-dependent antibodies and their clinical significance. 

    Studies of CD36 on Platelets

    We showed that ~3% of African-Americans lack the protein CD36/glycoprotein IV on their platelets. CD36 is a receptor for malaria-infected red blood cells, and absence of the protein from platelets and monocytes may play a role in malaria infection. Studies are ongoing to identify the rate of alloimmunization to CD36 in patients with CD36 deficiency and the role of these antibodies in immune platelet disorders. 

    Low Frequency Human Platelet Alloantigens (HPA)

    The Platelet & Neutrophil Immunology Lab performs testing on over 400 samples each year to aid physicians in the clinical diagnosis of fetal & neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT). FNAIT is a disorder in pregnancy in which a mother makes antibodies against her baby’s platelets resulting in destruction of the baby’s platelets leading to severe bleeding into the baby’s brain (ICH) and even death. It is thus important that laboratory testing for FNAIT be thorough, including the ability to detect maternal antibodies reactive with low frequency or new HPA (view list Platelet Antigen Database). We are working with cutting-edge methods to detect and characterize newly discovered HPA.

    Leukocyte Antibodies in TRALI

    Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI) is a severe reaction that some patients experience following transfusion of blood or plasma. TRALI is currently the number one cause of transfusion-related death reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In a significant number of TRALI cases, the plasma from donors of the implicated blood products contains leukocyte antibodies (HLA and neutrophil) that cause activation of the patient’s neutrophils, leading to TRALI. One of the antigens targeted by such antibodies is designated human neutrophil antigen (HNA)-3a, which has been implicated in numerous severe cases of TRALI, many of them fatal. We identified the protein carrier (CTL2) of HNA-3a and HNA-3b, alleles of gene SLC44A2. We are also investigating the use of tests that could be used to screen blood donors for antibodies against HNA-3 as a TRALI risk-reduction measure.

    Versiti Moonshot Fund, "Designer Blood Cells Using CRISPR-Cas 9 Gene Editing," Role: PI (2019

    Marisela Marchan
    Supervisor, Platelet & Neutrophil Immunology Lab

    Mia Sullivan
    Technical Specialist, Platelet & Neutrophil Immunology Lab

    Allison Ujcich
    Operations Director, Diagnostic Hematology

    Click here for a complete list of publications.

    Selected Publications


    Electronic Media 

    • Chaffin J (Host), Curtis BR (Guest). (2017, Feb 13) NAIT (No. 027) [Audio podcast episode] in Blood Bank Guy  
    • Curtis BR (Speaker). (2017, May 10) Platelet Immunology (Master Program No. 17EL-133) [Professional Development eCast] in AABB Immunohematology Boot Camp
    • Curtis BR (Speaker). (2019, March 6) A Newborn Infant has a Low Platelet Count - Important diagnostic features of Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia (NAIT) [BloodFLOW (Further Learning On Web) Webinar] in beLearning by Versiti   
    • Curtis BR, Bakchoul T (Hosts). (2019, February 25) Module 4: Drug-Induced Thrombocytopenia (No. 234427) [ISTH Academy] in Acquired Thrombocytopenia Course
    • Sharma R, Curtis BR (Speakers). (2020, July 23) Recent Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment of HIT. [BloodFLOW] in beLearning by Versiti

    Patents:

    • 1996    U.S. Serial No. 5,585,243. Inventors - RH Aster and BR Curtis. METHOD OF DETECTING CYTOPENIA THAT IS MEDIATED BY DRUG-DEPENDENT ANTIBODY BINDING TO BLOOD CELLS
    • 2015    U.S. Serial No. 9,017,958 B2. Inventor – Brian R. Curtis. METHOD OF SIMULTANEOUS DETECTION OF HEPARIN-INDUCE IMMUNOGLOBULINS TYPES G, A, AND M.
     
    Transfusion Medicine, Vascular Biology & Cellular Therapy
    We study biology and pathology of blood vessels, blood and blood cells and design ways to repair or replace them when damaged.
     
    Our Experts
    Research investigators, postdoctoral fellows and laboratory staff at Versiti Blood Research Institute and Diagnostic Laboratories.
     
    Versiti Blood Research Institute
    Versiti Blood Research Institute investigators study blood disorders like hemophilia, blood cancers like leukemia, and other blood diseases.