This week, we connected with Dr. Jelena Holovati about her work as a Canadian Blood Services adjunct scientist and her role as laboratory director of the Edmonton Stem Cell Manufacturing Program. Where do you work and what is your role? I’m an associate professor in the department of laboratory medicine and pathology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. I also hold Canadian Blood Services positions as a laboratory director for the Edmonton Stem Cell Manufacturing Program and as an adjunct scientist. By training, I'm a lab technologist – this background has served me really well in my

Exciting research from the University of British Columbia could make it easier to match blood to patients, by turning all blood into type O, the universal donor. This work was just presented at the American Chemical Society National Meeting in Boston, and has created quite a buzz. I chatted to our Chief Scientist, Dr. Dana Devine, and Dr. Jayachandran Kizhakkedathu to learn more. Led by Dr. Stephen Withers, a professor in the departments of chemistry and biochemistry at UBC, researchers have discovered an enzyme that can turn type A, B or AB blood into type O. So, what is this approach about

On August 16, 2018, we lost much valued colleague, mentor and friend who had great influence on transfusion medicine around the world. Dr. Celso Bianco served as the Chairman of Canadian Blood Services’ Scientific Research Advisory Council from 2002–2012 and was the recipient of a Canadian Blood Services’ Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. Dr. Bianco has spent more than 40 years researching, teaching and managing issues related to transfusion medicine, transfusion-transmitted diseases and blood safety. He authored or co-authored more than 200 scientific publications on a wide range of topics

Platelets contribute to the steady-state production of thrombopoietin by the liver. This has important implications in bleeding diseases and immune-mediated thrombocytopenias.

BloodTechNet is a competitive funding program that supports projects aimed at delivering innovative educational resources for healthcare professionals in the transfusion, cellular therapy, and transplantation communities. Again this year, we were impressed by the quality of the applications received for the BloodTechNet competition and we look forward to seeing the educational resources that the four new projects will produce in about a year. To share our excitement, here’s a taste of what’s to come! Enhancing knowledge about blood groups and antibodies to prevent transfusion reactions The

This week, we chat with Canadian Blood Services’ adjunct scientist, Dr. Elisabeth Maurer, about her work to understand blood platelets for transfusion, the technology she has developed to help determine “what’s in the bag”, and what inspires her to keep researching these small but dynamic cell fragments that are so critical to bleeding, clotting, and the immune system. Where do you work and what is your role? I work at LightIntegra Technology Inc., a company that was founded in 2008 while I was scientist at Canadian Blood Services. I am the chief technology officer. I also hold a position as

At the 35 th Congress of the International Society for Blood Transfusion (ISBT), members of our network gathered to share their knowledge and exciting new educational resources.

Once Local Day wrapped up, the 35th Congress of the International Society for Blood Transfusion (ISBT) got into full swing. What followed was four days of the latest in transfusion medicine and science, delivered in a jam-packed schedule of concurrent sessions. ISBT 2018 addressed topics across the transfusion spectrum, from donor recruitment and retention, donor health, the biology of blood cells, blood components, transfusion-transmitted infectious diseases, immunohaematology, patient blood management, adverse transfusion events, cellular therapies, and much more. Sharing knowledge on the

Held in Toronto, the 35 th Congress of the International Society for Blood Transfusion (ISBT) kicked off with a “Local Day” on Saturday June 2 nd. Organized by the Canadian Society for Transfusion Medicine, and chaired by Dr. Katerina Pavenski, Local Day focused on Canadian advances in transfusion medicine over the years: past, present, and future. As 2018 marks the 20-year anniversary of the founding of Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Québec, the program was designed to reflect on the past and look to the future. The day began with the Annual General Meeting of CSTM, followed by the Ortho

Earlier this month, the international community of transfusion medicine and science professionals converged on Toronto, Ontario, for the 35th Congress of the International Society for Blood Transfusion (ISBT). Held every other year at different locations around the globe, the ISBT congress is one of the main knowledge sharing and networking events in the field of transfusion. This year was the first time since 2002 that the ISBT congress was held in Canada. Canadian Blood Services was there in force, to showcase Canadian contributions to the field, exchange ideas, share knowledge, and build