Dr. Linda S Barnes is a technical expert in biotherapies and blood systems strengthening. As an implementation scientist and action researcher, she studies complex adaptive systems using action research and systems-thinking approaches. She brings more than 30 years of leadership in blood systems and emerging biotherapies ranging from capacity building, research into new biomedical interventions, and commercialization of novel advanced medicines. Dr. Barnes studies gaps in blood availability through mixed methods to assure that blood transfusion can be delivered to save lives. She is a co-PI studying blood availability in and innovations in Turkana; a co-investigator on the PITS-Kenya BloodSafe study; a trusted consultant and strategic advisor to international blood systems and emerging biotherapies enterprises. She holds an appointment as a Visiting Assistant Research Professor at the University of Pittsburgh and sits on multiple committees and working groups to address barriers and improve systems performance with the goal of making effective therapies, especially in rare diseases, available to patients in need. Dr. Barnes obtained her BA in Biology from Whitman College, her MHA from the University of Washington, and her Doctor of Public Health from the University of Illinois--Chicago. She is certified in regulatory affairs (RAC) and advanced biotherapies (CABP(H)).