The University of British Columbia’s Centre for Blood Research-School of Biomedical Engineering (CBR-SBME) Research Day celebrates the progress and accomplishments of summer students. It takes place every August, at the conclusion of the CBR-SBME Summer Studentship Program, which is supported in part by Canadian Blood Services. In this post, two Summer Student Program alumni describe the 2021 virtual event.

At the start of the pandemic, convalescent plasma was seen as potential therapy for treating COVID-19. But now, an international team led by Canadian scientists has published results from the largest clinical trial on convalescent plasma and COVID-19, showing it is not effective as a treatment against COVID-19.

As this Centre for Blood Research profile highlights, the Centre for Innovation’s Dr. Peter Schubert keeps busy with his various roles at Canadian Blood Services and the University of British Columbia Centre for Blood Research. Read on to learn about his background, his research inspirations and his advice for young scientists.

Our research is improving patient safety for those who need intravenous immune globulin (IVIg), a drug used to treat autoimmune diseases. By increasing our understanding of an unexpected, potentially life-threatening side effect of IVIg therapy, our studies can help doctors better predict which patients are most at risk and take steps to protect them.

Transfusion Camp is an educational program established by the University of Toronto QUEST program that teaches physicians how to use blood wisely. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we questioned whether Transfusion Camp could continue.

In November, the University of British Columbia Centre for Blood Research (CBR) hosted its 12th annual Earl W. Davie Symposium in Vancouver, BC. During the event, researchers, students, clinicians and patients discussed successes and ongoing challenges in hematology, from understanding basic mechanisms of clotting to improving patient care.

By Sarah Bowers, Undergraduate Student, Brown Lab, Centre for Blood Research This post was originally published on the Centre for Blood Research blog. It has been republished here with permission with minor edits. What is involved in getting blood that has been donated at a mobile clinic in Campbell River to a patient on the operating table at Vancouver General Hospital? On Tuesday, July 24th, the Centre for Blood Research (CBR) Summer Students headed to Canadian Blood Services’ Vancouver location to find out. The donor centre and production labs are located at Oak Street and 32nd Avenue

By Lisa Bendall, Health Writer This feature article was originally published in the Canadian Journal of Medical Laboratory Science (CJMLS) in Summer 2016. The CJMLS is a publication of the Canadian Society of Medical Laboratory Science. Please note that clarifications, updates and some additional content have been added (see italics) by Canadian Blood Services. Also note that within this article transfusion service providers (Canadian Blood Services' customers) are described as blood banks, banks, transfusion labs, hospitals and regional health authorities. Most days, across Canada, blood is