When Bill Cresko, UO Director for the Center for Biomedical Data Science (CBDS), and Sadik Esener, OHSU interim Director for CBDS, rolled up their sleeves at the Big Ten blood drive on campus, they weren't just participating in a friendly competition. They were supporting a cause central to their work.
The Big Ten blood drive is an inter-campus competition that rewards whichever campus donates the most blood. But beyond the competitive spirit, the mission runs deeper. Blood donations support patients across the healthcare spectrum, from surgeries and childbirth to cancer treatment, a cause particularly close to CBDS's mission.
The Center for Biomedical Data Science is a first-of-its-kind partnership between Oregon Health & Science University and the University of Oregon. Through data science, they're working to diagnose, treat, and cure diseases, including cancer, faster than ever before.
For Cresko and Esener, donating blood was a natural extension of that mission. They're now encouraging others to do the same.
Local KEZI news was on campus to cover the event. "It is very important for the younger generation to donate blood," Esener said. "I think there is a reduction in that. So it's important they contribute because it's going to help others, and it doesn't hurt."
You can learn more about UO's position in the competition and register to donate blood here. Watch KEZI's coverage of the blood drive here.