Blood

Highlights from the Canadian transfusion community’s annual conference


Thursday, July 18, 2019
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.

Stories worth sharing: Effectively communicating “Research that matters!”


Thursday, July 04, 2019
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.

International effort leads to better clinical guidelines for a serious illness affecting fetuses and newborns


Thursday, June 20, 2019
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.

Trainees shine at the 2019 Norman Bethune Symposium


Tuesday, June 11, 2019
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.

Creating platelets 2.0: stronger, faster, and with twice the life-saving power


Thursday, June 06, 2019
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.

Iron deficiency in pregnancy – a matter of public health


Tuesday, May 28, 2019
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.

Canadian Blood Services’ scientist recognized for his mentorship of graduate students


Wednesday, May 22, 2019
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.

University of Alberta’s Timothy Caulfield receives James Kreppner Award


Tuesday, May 14, 2019
The 2018 award named for lawyer and tireless blood activist James Kreppner, will fund much-needed research into legal and regulatory issues around the long-term storage and use of biological samples.

Nominations now open for the 2019 Canadian Blood Services Lifetime Achievement Award


Monday, May 13, 2019
Recipients of the Canadian Blood Services Lifetime Achievement Award are individuals whose landmark contributions are recognized as both extraordinary and world class in the field of transfusion or transplantation medicine, stem cell or cord blood research in Canada and/or abroad.

Stories worth sharing: Blood clotting factor or clot buster?


Tuesday, April 16, 2019
In the delicate balance between clotting and bleeding, current laboratory research being undertaken by our partners is evolving our knowledge of how anticoagulant drugs work