Dr. Stowell’s research seeks to enhance the care of transfusion-dependent patients. The motivation for his research program originated from early observations during medical school of the severe and often fatal transfusion complications experienced by patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Although compatible red blood cells (RBCs) can be sourced for most patients, it can be difficult to procure compatible RBCs for patients with SCD and other transfusion-dependent conditions due to the accumulation of alloimmune responses from previous transfusions. This challenge has become particularly significant over the past two decades as patients with SCD and other transfusion-dependent conditions have experienced more transfusion exposure. He launched his research group following receipt of the NIH directors DP5 Early Independent Award and the Burroughs Wellcome Trust Career Award for Medical Scientists, where he continues to seek overcome challenges associated with optimizing transfusions for SCD patients and others. In doing so, his group, along with many others, has developed and utilized various preclinical models that have revealed key immune pathways involved in RBC alloimmunization, hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn, and the role of blood group antigens in various disease processes. This collective work continues to uncover mechanisms behind the development and consequences RBC alloimmunization, with promise in the development of targeted strategies aimed at enhancing outcomes for patients dependent on transfusions.