World Hemophilia Day, an initiative of the World Federation of Hemophilia to raise awareness of hemophilia and other genetic bleeding disorders, is held annually on April 17. Hemophilia, an inherited blood disorder that affects mostly men, impairs the ability of a person’s blood to form clots. This blog highlights significant research into hemophilia that has received support from Canadian Blood Services.

In this blog post, read about the 2023 Earl W. Davie Symposium held at the Centre for Blood Research (CBR) - a research event that brings together scientists, medical doctors, healthcare professionals, and trainees in the field of blood research and beyond.

A study led by Canadian Blood Services researchers has provided new insights into the complex mechanisms behind the immune responses involved in conditions such as hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn by identifying the role of trogocytosis in antibody-mediated immune suppression (AMIS).

Read about the new Canadian Blood Services Dana Devine Award program. This blog post, written by the Centre for Blood Research (CBR) includes reflections from individuals who worked with Dr. Devine.

Discover how the latest breakthroughs and promising advancements in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) research by Canadian Blood Services scientists are enhancing HSC growth to improve transplantation and gene therapy outcomes for leukemia and blood disorders.

Canadian Blood Services, in collaboration with the Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST) collaborative, conducted a study to understand plateletpheresis-associated lymphopenia, a rare condition associated with platelet donation. The study found that implementing a procedure called plasma rinseback significantly mitigated the development of lymphopenia in frequent, long-term platelet donors. Canadian Blood Services routinely uses plasma rinseback, ensuring the well-being of generous platelet donors and reducing the occurrence of lymphopenia.

In this blog, we showcase the Canadian Blood Services Graduate Fellowship Program as a platform for outstanding research and innovation in the field of blood transfusion and transplantation science. We highlight the remarkable accomplishments of current recipients, demonstrating the program's impact on healthcare. We hope to inspire potential applicants to pursue this opportunity.

Recent research involving Canadian Blood Services researchers highlights the relationship between donor age and the quality of blood products like red blood cells, while considering the complex interplay between storage conditions, oxidative stress, and genetic factors. Though the clinical implications remain uncertain, these findings underscore the importance of ongoing research in optimizing blood storage practices and continuing to improve the efficacy of blood transfusions for patients in need.

As a new member of the Knowledge Mobilization and Strategic Alliances (KM&SA) team, I was invited to attend Canadian Blood Services Research Day on May 25, 2023, which coincides with the Canadian Society for Transfusion Medicine (CSTM) annual conference. I share how attending this opportunity helped shape my passion for Canadian Blood Services as I planned to enter my new role as a Knowledge Broker.