Evan Martin Bloch, MBCHB, MS
Pathology
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty
About Evan Martin Bloch
Professional Titles
- Associate Director, Transfusion Medicine Division
- Medical Director, Hemapheresis and Transfusion Support (HATS)
Primary Academic Title
Professor of Pathology
Background
Dr. Evan Bloch is a Professor of Pathology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he serves as the Associate Director of Transfusion Medicine and Medical Director of the Apheresis Service; he also holds a joint appointment in International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Originally from South Africa, Dr. Bloch has drawn on his background in anatomic and clinical pathology (Tufts Medical Center), transfusion medicine (University of California San Francisco), and global health to advance a longstanding interest in the interplay between blood transfusion and infectious diseases, particularly in low and low-middle income countries where transfusion-transmitted infection remains a key metric of suboptimal policies and practices.
Blood transfusion networks afford invaluable opportunity to study neglected (e.g., Babesia) and emerging infectious diseases (Zika, SARS-CoV2). Many —if not most—infectious risks to the blood supply remain neglected (e.g., malaria, bacteria), particularly in low-resourced settings, whereby research can yield high-impact public health intervention. Blood transfusion itself can also be used to contend with emerging pathogens, as illustrated by the use of convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19. To date Dr. Bloch has been engaged in a host of research, educational and clinical outreach endeavors in Transfusion Medicine across diverse settings.
Dr. Bloch has a particular interest in babesiosis, a tick-borne parasitic infection that is endemic to parts of the United States (US). Babesia is globally ubiquitous, yet lack of awareness, in part due to historically limited diagnostic tools, has impeded greater recognition of its role in human disease. Dr. Bloch has participated in studies to develop both antibody and molecular tests for detection of Babesia. The studies have also been used to understand the biology of Babesia infection as well as to conduct surveillance outside of the US.
His research is funded by the National Institutes of Health. The author of over 200 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Bloch is an active member of the International Society of Blood Transfusion, AABB (formerly American Association of Blood Banks), and the FDA Blood Product Advisory Committee.
Research Interests
Babesia, neglected infectious diseases, transfusion transmitted infections, passive immunotherapies, global health and transfusion medicine
Research Summary
Primary Focus
- Epidemiology and intervention trials focused on neglected (e.g. Babesia) and emerging (eg. Zika) infectious disease, specifically in the context of blood transfusion safety
- Clinical and operational blood safety in low resource settings
Selected Publications
Sullivan DJ, Gebo KA, Shoham S, Bloch EM, Lau B, Shenoy AG, Mosnaim GS, Gniadek TJ, Fukuta Y, Patel B, Heath SL, Levine AC, Meisenberg BR, Spivak ES, Anjan S, Huaman MA, Blair JE, Currier JS, Paxton JH, Gerber JM, Petrini JR, Broderick PB, Rausch W, Cordisco ME, Hammel J, Greenblatt B, Cluzet VC, Cruser D, Oei K, Abinante M, Hammitt LL, Sutcliffe CG, Forthal DN, Zand MS, Cachay ER, Raval JS, Kassaye SG, Foster EC, Roth M, Marshall CE, Yarava A, Lane K, McBee NA, Gawad AL, Karlen N, Singh A, Ford DE, Jabs DA, Appel LJ, Shade DM, Ehrhardt S, Baksh SN, Laeyendecker O, Pekosz A, Klein SL, Casadevall A, Tobian AAR, Hanley DF. Early Outpatient COVID-19 Treatment Trial with Convalescent Plasma. N Engl J Med 2022.
Bloch EM, Day JR, Krause PJ, Kjemtrup A, O'Brien SF, Tobian AAR, Goel R. Epidemiology of Hospitalized Patients with Babesiosis, United States, 2010-2016. Emerg Infect Dis 2022;28: 354-62.
Bloch EM, Ness PM, Tobian AAR, Sugarman J. Revisiting Blood Safety Practices Given Emerging Data about Zika Virus. N Engl J Med 2018;378: 1837-41
Bloch EM, Shoham S, Casadevall A, Sachais BS, Shaz B, Winters JL, van Buskirk C, Grossman BJ, Joyner M, Henderson JP, Pekosz A, Lau B, Wesolowski A, Katz L, Shan H, Auwaerter PG, Thomas D, Sullivan DJ, Paneth N, Gehrie EA, Spitalnik S, Hod EA, Pollack L, Nicholson WT, Pirofski L, Bailey JA, Tobian AAR. Deployment of convalescent plasma for the prevention and treatment of COVID-1. The Journal of Clinical Investigation 2020. Jun 1;130(6):2757-2765
Bloch EM, Simon, MS and Shaz, BH. Emerging Infections and Blood Safety in the 21st Century. Ann Intern Med Mar 15 2016
Memberships
- AABB (Formerly American Association of Blood Banks)
- ISBT (International Association of Blood Transfusion)
Locations
- The Johns Hopkins Hospital
- 1800 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21287
- phone: 410-955-5000
- fax: 410-955-5001
Expertise
Education
University of California San Francisco School of Medicine
Graduate School, MS, 2010University of California San Francisco School of Medicine
Fellowship, 2009Tufts Medical Center
Residency, Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, 2008University of Cape Town Medical School
Medical Education, MBChB MS, 1999Board Certifications
Anatomic Pathology
American Board of Pathology, 2017Clinical Pathology
American Board of Pathology, 2017Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine
American Board of Pathology, 2009Insurance
- Aetna
- CareFirst
- Cigna
- First Health
- Geisinger Health Plan
- HealthSmart/Accel
- Humana
- Johns Hopkins Health Plans
- MultiPlan
- Pennsylvania's Preferred Health Networks (PPHN)
- Point Comfort Underwriters
- Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
- UnitedHealthcare
- Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (Optum-VACCN)