An article recently published on the Canadian Blood Services’ professional education website looks back on the impact of the pandemic on blood donation in Canada.

Through the Centre for Innovation’s competitive funding programs, Canadian Blood Services conducts and supports researchers and research projects in key areas. Recipients for one of our most dynamic programs, the BloodTechNet Award, were recently announced, and several other funding opportunities are now open for applications.

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.

The Canadian Blood Services Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals whose landmark contributions are both extraordinary and world class in the field of transfusion or transplantation medicine, stem cell or cord blood research in Canada and/or abroad.

Sarah Longo’s personal and engaging story describing the challenges she faced starting a new research position in the middle of the pandemic was awarded runner up in this year’s Lay Science Writing Competition.

We are delighted to publish the entries that were awarded joint first place in this year’s Lay Science Writing Competition. Read on for Melina Messing’s sobering but ultimately hopeful entry describing her experiences as a immunology researcher during the pandemic.

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.