Lay Science Writing Competition 2024: Research ensures innovation and safety go hand in hand for stem cell transplantation

Our partnership with the Centre for Blood Research (CBR) at the University of British Columbia is helping to train the next generation of researchers in transfusion science. This blog post highlights just some of the achievements in education, training or knowledge mobilization accomplished by CBR trainees.

Canadian Blood Services 2024 Lay Science Writing Competition offered in partnership with the Centre for Blood Research (CBR) provides research trainees an opportunity to exercise and enhance their science communication skills by sharing their research with lay audiences. The competition was open to research trainees in the broad Canadian Blood Services research network – including trainees that are directly funded by Canadian Blood Services, in laboratories that receive funding from Canadian Blood Services, and at the Centre for Blood Research in Vancouver.

In this blog, postdoctoral fellows Drs. Chaahat Singh and Giorgia Caspani describe their research in the lab of Dr. Wilfred Jefferies at CBR and their experience preparing their written LSWC entry which claimed second prize in this year’s competition! The full entry text is shared below, prefaced by an important editorial note provided by Canadian Blood Services’ Medical Director of Stem Cells, Dr. Matthew Seftel:  

Note: Canadian Blood Services’ stem cell donors are rigorously screened for potentially transmissible health conditions, and we must comply with national and international requirements to ensure that donations are safe for use in patients. The research by Drs. Singh and Caspani raises important questions about the possible transmissibility of a serious neurological condition from donors to recipients. However, this research was performed in a mouse model, and its relevance to human blood stem cell transplantation remains to be proven. Canadian Blood Services has a commitment to initiate and support research to further understand new and emerging risks related to transfusion and transplantation. The preliminary evidence proposed by Drs. Singh and Caspani is a welcome contribution to this research agenda, and my hope is that their observations will stimulate further research on whether this risk also applies in humans who receive blood stem cell transplants.

Read the full research paper behind this Lay Science Writing Competition entry: Conclusive demonstration of iatrogenic Alzheimer’s disease transmission in a model of stem cell transplantation: Stem Cell Reports

Why did you choose to participate in the competition this year?  

• Chaahat: A researcher’s goal along with the pursuit of knowledge ultimately is to dedicate their efforts for the community. It is imperative to share new information with those that would benefit and whose lives could be affected by it. The competition provided an excellent platform to convey our message to a wide audience and engage the community in a meaningful way. 

• Giorgia: I believe it’s important for scientists to engage in activities that make their research accessible to lay audiences. This competition was the ideal opportunity to highlight the work of the Jefferies Lab on a topic of widespread interest and relevance, like that of iatrogenic diseases. 

The theme this year was “Connecting science with society”; what did this theme mean to you?  

• Chaahat: The theme resonated deeply with me because it captures the essence of why we conduct research in the first place. Science doesn’t exist in isolation—it is meant to improve lives, inform public health decisions, and inspire innovation that benefits society. For me, this theme emphasizes the importance of making complex scientific discoveries accessible and relevant to the people they impact. Our research on the potential transmission of Alzheimer's disease through stem cell transplantation which highlights the need for rigorous screening of blood products to avoid iatrogenic transmission (meaning inadvertently caused during, or as a result of, a medical intervention or error), is a perfect example of how critical it is to bridge the gap between the lab and the public. By participating in this competition, I aimed to bring attention to the potential risks in transfusion science and underscore the need for public awareness and safety measures. 

• Giorgia: To me, “connecting science with society” means making the public an integral part of scientific research. I think that the ultimate goal of science is to bring about a positive change for the community and improve people’s quality of life. For this reason, I believe that scientists hold the responsibility to maintain a transparent dialogue with the lay community. 

Did the writing process help you learn or discover something new about your research?  

• Chaahat: Writing for a lay audience required me to step back and see the bigger picture and real-world implications, beyond the technical details. Writing this piece gave me an opportunity to make the research more accessible. I realized that communicating science effectively is just as important as conducting it—if the public and policymakers don’t understand the risks or potential benefits of new discoveries, then the impact of the research can be diminished.  

• Giorgia: Writing the essay made me reflect on the wider implications of our work. The research paper that our piece is based on discusses the risk of Alzheimer’s disease transmission via iatrogenic mechanisms. However, appropriate screening of biological samples before transplant and/or transfusion is essential to prevent iatrogenic transmission of diseases of any kind. 

What ‘next steps’ do you see as important based on your research findings?  

• Chaahat: The study demonstrates that iatrogenic transmission of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology is possible through bone marrow transplantation in a preclinical model. While the study provides compelling evidence of transplantable AD in animal models, it also acknowledges limitations, such as differences between the mouse model and human cases. Therefore, additional research is needed to investigate how these findings translate to humans, especially regarding the neurological risks associated with various transplantation procedures. 
  
  Future studies should explore the long-term effects of transplantation and transfusion on the central nervous system in human subjects, as well as the potential for other diseases to be transferred in similar ways. Given the implications of this research, it is important to inform recipients of potential risks, including the rare but possible transmission of diseases like AD through transplantation or transfusion. While current procedures involve rigorous testing and matching, recipients should be made aware through informed consent processes that even with these precautions, some risks may remain.  

What tips would you share with others who are writing about research for lay audiences? 

• Chaahat: My biggest tip is to focus on simplicity without losing the essence of your message. Avoid complex terms, and instead, think about how you would explain your research to a friend or family member who has no scientific background. Use relatable analogies and storytelling to make the content more engaging and easier to understand. Also, highlight the ‘why’ behind your research—why it matters, what problem it’s addressing, and how it could potentially affect people’s lives. Finally, be patient and revise often. It takes time to strike the right balance between accuracy and accessibility, but it’s worth the effort when your work reaches a broader audience. 

• Giorgia: The hardest step is to start! Reflect on why your research is important to you and to those around you. Taking on a different perspective often helps uncover previously unexplored aspects of the problem and could even help you in your scientific research!

Read the prize-winning entry below... 

Unveiling the hidden risks of stem cell transplantation 

In a quaint suburban neighborhood, Emily eagerly awaited a life-changing procedure that promised to cure her debilitating disease. She was about to undergo a stem cell transplant, a beacon of hope for many patients. Stem cell therapies have shown incredible potential, offering new ways to treat and heal. However, recent research highlights the complex balance between medical advancements and patient safety.   

Our recent study published in Stem Cell Reports investigated whether Alzheimer’s disease (AD) could potentially be spread through stem cell transplants in mouse models. In this study, we transplanted donor bone marrow stem cells from mice with AD into healthy mice. Surprisingly, the transplanted stem cells carried harmful amyloid-beta plaques, the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, into the recipient mice. These plaques began to accumulate in the brains of the mice, leading to the development of Alzheimer's-like symptoms. This research challenges the belief that Alzheimer's only occurs due to aging or genetics, by investigating whether transfer may be possible through medical procedures.  Stem cell therapy has been seen as a groundbreaking treatment for many conditions, from Parkinson's disease to spinal cord injuries. However, this research raises important questions for the medical community regarding testing procedures and safety measures. 

For patients like Emily, this research highlights the need for thorough screening and testing of stem cell sources. This serves as a reminder that even the most promising medical advancements can have unexpected risks.  

The potential impact of this research is significant, as the possibility of spreading this disease through medical procedures adds a new layer of complexity. However, this discovery also opens new opportunities for scientific inquiry and innovation. Researchers are now exploring new methods to detect and remove harmful substances in stem cell cultures. This will help us develop safer and more effective treatments, ultimately improving patient care. Moreover, this research emphasizes the importance of ongoing vigilance and evaluation in medicine. It shows the need for strong regulations and continuous monitoring of new therapies to ensure patient safety. By learning from these findings, the medical community can better manage the complexities of new treatments and minimize risks. This study also highlights how scientific discoveries can influence public health. Breakthroughs in one area of medicine can have widespread effects, changing practices, policies, and patient experiences across the healthcare spectrum. As we explore the potential of stem cell therapies, we must always consider the ethical and safety issues involved.

For Emily and many others who rely on medical innovations, this research serves as a reminder of the importance of informed decision-making and comprehensive care. It reinforces the idea that while science holds great promise, it also requires careful management and a commitment to patient well-being.

In conclusion, the discovery of Alzheimer's disease transmission through stem cell transplantation in mouse models marks an important moment in medical research. It calls for continued attention to safety, rigorous testing, and ethical considerations in developing and using regenerative therapies. By connecting science with society, we can navigate the challenges and opportunities of medical advancements, ensuring a future where innovation and safety go hand in hand.

About the authors:

Dr. Chaahat Singh became a postdoctoral fellow at CBR in January 2021 after completing her PhD in Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia. Her research interests include uncovering alternate mechanisms of pathophysiology in Alzheimer’s disease. She is currently working on the potential of psychedelic drugs as therapeutics for various central nervous system disorders and aims to see pre-clinical research be translated to clinical studies. 

Dr. Giorgia Caspani became a postdoctoral fellow at CBR in July 2022 after completing her PhD in neuroscience at Imperial College London. She is currently researching the therapeutic potentials of psychedelic drugs and their interaction with the gut microbiome. 

Canadian Blood Services – Driving world-class innovation

Through discovery, development and applied research, Canadian Blood Services drives world-class innovation in blood transfusion, cellular therapy and transplantation—bringing clarity and insight to an increasingly complex healthcare future. Our dedicated research team and extended network of partners engage in exploratory and applied research to create new knowledge, inform and enhance best practices, contribute to the development of new services and technologies, and build capacity through training and collaboration. Find out more about our research impact.   

The opinions reflected in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Canadian Blood Services nor do they reflect the views of Health Canada or any other funding agency.