Over a century since its routine introduction into medical practice (1), blood transfusion remains one of the most common medical procedures, with over 11 million RBC units collected annually in the United States alone (2). RBC units can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 42 days, providing critical logistical advantages. However, extended storage induces progressive biochemical, metabolic, and morphological changes collectively termed the “storage lesion” (3). These storage-associat...
