Recent advances in cell culture and microfabrication technologies have enabled the development of perfusable endothelialized channels in vitro. To date, these techniques have primarily been applied to tissue engineering research. However, this set-up provides the unique opportunity to simulate blood product transfusion in a cost-effective, robust and reproducible manner – incorporating blood, endothelial and flow components in one unit. This Perspective describes the value of vascular models in transfusion research and discusses key decision points in the design process.