The Centre for Innovation is delighted to announce the winners of the 2020-2021 Canadian Blood Services Lay Science Writing Competition. Read on to find out who won!

You may be aware that there’s no deferral for blood donors after they receive a vaccine against COVID-19. But you might be wondering how the blood operators made this decision. Canadian Blood Services' medical director for donor and clinical services, Dr. Mindy Goldman, answers questions.

A pandemic, and a possible blood-derived treatment, means blood operators like Canadian Blood Services have found themselves playing a unique role in national and international clinical trials. Canadian Blood Services social scientist, Dr. Kelly Holloway, and her collaborators, were recently awarded funding to understand the role and experience of blood operators as they navigate this new landscape.

With an anticipated global shortage of immune globulin products, finding alternatives to IVIg can help improve availability of a drug in high demand. A recent study shows that eltrombopag, an oral medication that stimulates the production of platelets, is an effective alternative to IVIg for patients with immune thrombocytopenia who need surgery.

The Intramural Research Grant Program, one of the Centre for Innovation’s most responsive and impactful research funding programs, and the Kenneth J. Fyke Program, which supports health services and policy research, are both open for applications.

Dr. Devine will bring roles together to bridge discoveries into better care

Blood plasma-derived IVIg holds promise as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. A new study suggests that combining IVIg with a new drug delivery technique that helps get IVIg into the brain could increase its effectiveness and help make the best use of this precious treatment.

What a year 2020 has been! Take a look back with us by checking out the five most visited R.E.D. blog posts in 2020.

The Centre for Blood Research’s 2020 Earl W. Davie Symposium marked the first since Dr. Davie’s passing in June. Read on to hear Kristine Ho, the Centre for Blood Research’s communication coordinator, reflect on this year’s symposium.

The Centre for Innovation is the heart of Canadian Blood Services’ research and development activities. Its latest annual report, covering the fiscal year 2019-2020, is now available on blood.ca.