Hosted by the Centre for Blood Research (CBR), the 15th Earl W. Davie Symposium in early November 2021 was the first in-person professional event I have attended since late 2019. Arriving that morning at UBC Robson Square in Vancouver felt just like the numerous other CBR Symposia I’ve attended over the years. But the chance to see many dear colleagues in person—after almost two years of virtual interactions—added an extra layer of anticipation and excitement. After a fully virtual event in 2020, the 2021 event was held in a hybrid format. A few dozen people attended in person, with some

During November’s Honouring Canada’s Lifeline award ceremony, three distinguished Canadian researchers were recognized with Lifetime Achievement Awards. Each a world-leading expert with numerous outstanding achievements during their distinguished careers, Dr. Gilles Delage, Dr. Heather Hume and Dr. Mel Krajden are deserving awardees. Dr. Gilles Delage Dr. Gilles Delage is an internationally recognized specialist in transfusion medicine and the prevention of infections transmissible by transfusion. A medical microbiologist by training, for 20 years he served as vice-president of medical

We’re excited to launch a brand-new look for the Professional Education website, Canadian Blood Services’ resource hub for health-care professionals working in transfusion medicine or as part of the organ and tissue donation and transplantation community. The new design makes it easier to find and use valuable resources, whether it’s a clinical guideline, best practice, publication or information about upcoming events. Although the website may have a new look, all content—developed in collaboration with leading experts in their fields—remains unchanged from the website’s previous version

Rising to the challenge For Canadian Blood Services and its research and education network, the last fiscal year (April 2020 to March 2021) was marked by the continuing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. As you’ll read in our Centre for Innovation 2020-2021 annual progress report, what emerges from these difficult times are stories of agility and resilience, collaboration and partnership, and innovation and excellence. It was an outstanding year for Canadian Blood Services research. The report outlines the Centre for Innovation’s efforts to support the pandemic response and our ongoing work

Dr. Dana Devine inaugurated as AABB President Congratulations to Dr. Dana Devine, Canadian Blood Services’ chief scientist, who was recently inaugurated as president of the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB). The official start of Dr. Devine’s term was marked by a virtual inauguration ceremony on the final day of the 2021 AABB Annual Meeting in October. Devine is taking over as president at an exciting and challenging time for the AABB and will be at the helm during the association’s 75th anniversary, which takes place in 2022. DYK AABB recently rebranded and is

In August this year Dr. Alvin Zipursky, a Canadian physician and researcher, died at the age of 90. He was renowned for improving children’s health in Canada and around the world and made research discoveries that were central to developing a life-saving treatment for a deadly disease called rhesus hemolytic disease, also known as Rh disease. Before a treatment was available, many Canadian women lost their babies to Rh disease, a condition that can develop in pregnancy when the mother and baby have incompatible blood types. Dr. Zipursky’s research and a collaboration with Drs. Bruce Chown and