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

Modified on:

Jun 5, 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

Modified on:

May 27, 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

Modified on:

May 21, 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.

Writing competition runner up: Phlebotomy to improve surgical outcomes and donor blood economy – a redemption story

Modified on:

May 20, 2019

Lily Park’s entry was awarded 2nd place in our Lay Science Writing Competition. It describes research by a group at The Ottawa Hospital to improve patient outcomes following liver surgery, while reducing blood loss and the need for blood transfusion.

University of Alberta’s Timothy Caulfield receives James Kreppner Award

Modified on:

May 13, 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

Modified on:

May 12, 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?

Modified on:

Apr 15, 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

Winning science research writers announced

Modified on:

Apr 4, 2019

The results of our first-ever Lay Science Writing Competition are in, read-on to discover who gets top-prize and what happens next.

Pathogen Inactivation – A Primer

Modified on:

Mar 7, 2019

This primer is part I of our new series exploring the future of blood banking. Given that D is also for Development: Canadian Blood Services and the Centre for Innovation have been following the development of pathogen inactivation technologies and how they can be used to improve safety. Read-on to learn more about these technologies and their potential to shift the blood safety paradigm.

Research Unit: Modelling risk to ensure safety when considering changes to blood testing

Modified on:

Feb 27, 2019

This month’s Research Unit describes efforts by researchers to create a simulation and modelling study to understand how the risk of transfusion-transmission of HTLV would change if the screening were modified.

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