Blood

Not your average bank


Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Part 2 in a six-part series by Dr. Jeannie Callum, a hospital-based transfusion specialist who shares her real-life experience witnessing the impact of blood donation on patient lives. Here she provides some fascinating insight into blood transfusion, past and present, and emphasizes the need for male donors and why some donors may be safer for patients.

Working today toward a better tomorrow


Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Innovation150 series: As Canada celebrates 150 years we look back on Canadian innovations in transfusion and transplantation medicine over the years. A series of posts feature remarkable Canadian progress - past, present and future. Part 1: Dr. Lawrence Bruce Robertson and blood transfusion in the trenches of World War I Part 2: Wartime Service and Canadian Transfusion Medicine Part 3: Meet Canada's Blood-Typing Pioneers In our first three #innovation150 posts on this blog, we brought readers back in time to the early days of Canadian transfusion medicine born out of wartime need during WW I

A miraculous gift, ready and waiting


Wednesday, August 16, 2017
In this six-part series, Dr. Jeannie Callum, a hospital-based transfusion specialist, shares her real-life experience witnessing the impact of blood donation on patient lives. She provides some fascinating insight into blood transfusion, past and present, and emphasizes the need for male donors and why some donors may be safer for patients.

Natural killers: when cells go wrong — New research reveals insights into causes of FNAIT


Wednesday, August 09, 2017
A new study by Centre for Innovation scientist Dr. Heyu Ni and his research team at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto clarifies how maternal antibodies can cause fetal growth restriction and miscarriage, and introduces a new therapeutic target: natural killer cells.

Extending the reach of research one ResearchUnit at a time


Wednesday, August 02, 2017
ResearchUnits are lay summaries of published research prepared by our colleagues at Canadian Blood Services' Centre for Innovation. They're simple and purposeful tools that report on project outcomes and research conducted by our investigators. Since 2013, 36 ResearchUnits have been published presenting research summaries on a variety of topics related to clincial research, product and process development, blood safety, transfusion practice, and more. They can be found the Our Research Impact section of blood.ca and are published at the rate of about one per month. The latest ResearchUnit has

A look back on Centre for Innovation progress in 2016-2017


Wednesday, July 26, 2017
This post is based on the introduction to the report written by Dr. Dana Devine, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, and Judie Leach Bennett, Vice-President, General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer. Evaluating value and impact The Centre for Innovation is the organization’s hub for research, education and discovery. Our multi-disciplinary network of internal and external partners and labs across the country uncover the evidence that improves our effectiveness and influences our practices and policies — for the benefit of Canadian patients, and ultimately, the greater health-care system. Our

Crossing the Atlantic for ISBT 2017


Wednesday, July 19, 2017
This post was written by Canadian Blood Services' postdoctoral fellows, Dr. Syed Qadri from Prof. William Sheffield's laboratory in Hamilton and Dr. Maria Loza from Dr. Sandra Ramirez‘s laboratory in Ottawa. They both crossed the Atlantic for ISBT 2017. In June 2017, more than 2000 transfusion medicine community members, scientists, and health policy makers, from across all continents, converged in the Danish capital Copenhagen to attend the 27th Regional Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion. Every year, this event brings international experts together to address the core

Cord blood matters – take time to learn more


Wednesday, July 12, 2017
July marks Cord Blood Awareness Month in certain places around the world. In homage to this important campaign we collected a few related stories from the RED archives and share a bit more information about why Cord Blood matters. Cord blood stem cells can be used in the treatment of more than 80 different diseases and disorders. By donating their baby’s cord blood, parents have the power to help patients living with diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia, and sickle cell disease. Researchers continue to explore the possibilities of using cord blood in many other treatments. At

Meet Canada's Blood-Typing Pioneers


Thursday, July 06, 2017
Innovation150 series: As Canada celebrates 150 years we look back on Canadian innovations in transfusion medicine over the years. A series of posts over the next few weeks feature remarkable Canadian progress -- past, present and future. #Innovation150.

Wartime Service and Canadian Transfusion Medicine


Thursday, June 29, 2017
Innovation150 series: As Canada celebrates 150 years we look back on Canadian innovations in transfusion medicine over the years. A series of posts over the next few weeks feature remarkable Canadian progress -- past, present and future. #Innovation150.