Canadian Blood Services recently updated the equipment it uses to produce components (red blood cells, plasma and platelets) from whole blood donations. In May 2019, the mammoth task of implementing the new equipment at manufacturing sites across the country was completed. But how did the organization choose which equipment to implement in the first place? Let’s look back at some early research work that helped the organization gather the evidence it needed to support this change.

The Centre for Innovation’s annual progress report details the achievements made over the past year by Canadian Blood Services’ network of scientists, medical experts, research partners, and collaborators.

By ensuring that innovation respects the rights of research participants, the Research Ethics Board helps Canadian Blood Services advance high quality health research to improve the lives of Canadians.

The Canadian Society for Transfusion Medicine’s annual conference took place in Calgary, Alberta in early June. The Centre for Innovation’s Geraldine Walsh was there and shares her highlights.

Before launching the Canadian Blood Services’ Lay Science Writing Competition for research trainees, the Centre for Innovation made sure to have the right team in place. Valuable support from Science Borealis and the Centre for Blood Research helped make our inaugural competition a success.

A team of experts gathered by the International Collaboration for Transfusion Medicine Guidelines has developed new clinical guidelines and accompanying patient and physician resources for Fetal and Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) – a potentially devastating illness in fetuses and newborns.

The Centre for Blood Research’s symposium was held in Vancouver, British Columbia in April. Featuring talks from world-class researchers, trainees and patients, the Norman Bethune Symposium provided attendees with the perfect blend of information and inspiration.

The ability to genetically modify a cell is a powerful tool. Genetically modified cells have advanced our understanding of how the body works and how diseases develop. They are currently used to treat a range of diseases, from cancers to bleeding disorders. Yet, not all cells are easily modified. Dr. Stefanie Novakowski’s joint 3rd place entry to our Lay Science Writing Competition explains more.

Red blood cells are like delivery trucks that deliver oxygen to the vital organs in our body. Iron is the flatbed of the truck which holds the oxygen in place. Our body loses iron when we lose blood, and women are at the highest risk for low iron since blood is lost monthly during childbearing years. Dr. Heather VanderMeulen’s joint 3rd place entry to our Lay Science Writing Competition dissects these issues.

Dr. Jason Acker was recently awarded the University of Alberta Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) Graduate Student Supervisor Award. We chatted to Dr. Acker to find out what this award means to him.