Dr. Charles R. Drew was a pioneer researcher in blood plasma and transfusions in New York City. During his work at Columbia University he made important discoveries relating to blood preservation. By separating the red blood cells from the near plasma and freezing separately, he found that blood could be preserved and reconstituted at a later date.
Charles Drew's system for storage of blood plasma lead to establisments of blood banks and revolutionized the medicine. Drew also established the American Red Cross blood bank, and served as its first director. He also organized the world's first blood bank drive, known as "Blood for Britain". His official title for the blood drive was Medical Director of the first Plasma Division for Blood Transfusion. His program supplied blood plasma to the British during World War II. The British military used his process to establish mobile blood banks to help treat wounded soldiers at the front lines. In 1941, the American Red Cross set up blood donor stations to collect plasma for the United States armed forces.
After the war, Drew accepted the Chair of Surgery at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He received the Spingarn Medal in 1944 for his contributions to medicine. Charles R. Drew died at the age of 46 from injuries suffered in a car accident in North Carolina.