Our Funded Research Projects

Updated October 2022

Title Principal Investigator / Supervisor Program Project Start Date Project End Date Sort ascending Total $ Awarded
Preservation of red blood cells by the novel isochoric oil-sealing supercooling system Principal Investigator: ACKER, Jason

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: ZHAO, Yuanheng
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program $150,000.00
Identifying biomarkers for Staphylococcus aureus contamination of platelet component Principal Investigator: RAMIREZ-ARCOS, Sandra

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CHI, Sylvia Ighem
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program $150,000.00
Fc receptor blockade in transfusion medicine Principal Investigator: LAZARUS, Alan

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: NI, Heyu, GUPTA, Akash, SHEHATA, Nadine, KJELDSEN-KRAGH, Jens, NEWMAN, Peter J., CSERTI-GAZDEWICH, Christine, RAVETCH, Jeffery
Intramural Research Grant Program $400,000.00
Small molecule inhibitors of phagocytosis Principal Investigator: BRANCH, Donald

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: KOTRA, Lakshmi P.
Intramural Research Grant Program $399,130.00
Can pre-operative anemia be timely identified and optimized in patients awaiting primary arthroplasty surgery? A randomized clinical trial Principal Investigator: GRAMMATOPOULOS, George

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: FERGUSSON, Dean, RAMSAY, Tim, TINMOUTH, Alan, GAGNE, Sylvain, MACK, Johnathan, BELZILE, Etienne, BEALE, Paul, THAVORN, Kednapa, TOUCHIE, Donna, GERMAIN, Genevieve, LAROCHE, Vincent
Intramural Research Grant Program $276,081.00
Biomarkers in patients with anemia-induced thrombocytopenic bleeding (BAIT): A pilot study Principal Investigator: ARNOLD, Donald

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: WEBERT, Kathryn, LIAW, Patricia, BERG, Tobias, HEDDLE, Nancy
Intramural Research Grant Program $200,000.00
A clinical comparison of cold-stored and room temperature-stored allogeneic platelet transfusions in bleeding adult cardiac surgery patients - A randomized multicentre pilot study (PLTS-1 study) Principal Investigator: BARTOSZKO, Justyna

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CALLUM, Jeannie, DEVINE, Dana, KARKOUTI, Keyvan, KAHR, Walter, MCVEY, Mark, PEER, Miki, RAO, Vivek, ABRAHAMYAN, Lusine, LIEBERMAN, Lani, MEWHORT, Holly
Intramural Research Grant Program $242,617.00
Generation of a coagulation factor-based thrombotic agent Principal Investigator: PRYZDIAL, Ed

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: WITT, Alexandra
Graduate Fellowship Program $52,000.00
Modified Platelet Storage Containers to Improve Quality During Storage Principal Investigator: DEVINE, Dana

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: PEREYRA DOS SANTOS, Nicolas
Graduate Fellowship Program $52,000.00
Replacement of IVIg by small molecule inhibitors of phagocytosis Principal Investigator: BRANCH, Donald

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: LORIAMINI, Melika
Graduate Fellowship Program $112,333.00
Synthesis and live cell imaging of ice recrystallization inhibitors in red blood cells Principal Investigator: BEN, Robert

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: MCMUNN, Leah
Graduate Fellowship Program $112,333.00
Defining the stem cell regulatory functions of GAS6 and FTO Principal Investigator: PINEAULT, Nicolas

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: PASALA, Ajay
Graduate Fellowship Program $52,000.00
Assessing the relationship between red blood cell deformability and transfusion lifetime Principal Investigator: MA, Hongshen

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: LAMOUREUX, Erik
Graduate Fellowship Program $52,000.00
Assessing the acceptability and feasibility of a plasma donation program for gbMSM in Montréal from the point of view of cis and trans gbMSM, volunteers from Héma-Québec, current donors, and plasma product recipients Principal Investigator: OTIS, Joanne

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: GERMAIN, Marc, HAW, Jennie, MONTEITH, Kenneth, MYHAL, Geneviève, PRESSEAU, Justin, PIRNAT, Bojan, LAPIERRE, Don
MSM Plasma Program $390,970.00
Awareness and understanding of apheresis plasma donation and effectiveness of alternative donor screening questions for diverse gbMSM and trans populations Principal Investigator: GAHAGAN, Jacqueline

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: HAW, Jennie, LACHOWSKY, Nathan, DRYDEN, OmiSoore, MANNING, Eli, FOSTER, Terrie, O'BRIEN, Sheila, HACHETTE, Todd, MULLOWNEY, Mike
MSM Plasma Program $200,500.00
Improving blood product quality Principal Investigator: DEVINE, Dana

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: MA, Hongshen, JOHNSON, James, D'ALESSANDRO, Angelo
Intramural Research Grant Program $304,462.00
Anti-RBC monoclonal antibodies as a replacement for IVIg and anti-D in ITP Principal Investigator: LAZARUS, Alan

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: BRANCH, Donald, DUNN, Shannon
Intramural Research Grant Program $400,000.00
The pan-Canadian immunoglobulin database: Enabling utilization reporting and personalized treatment using data mining techniques for immunoglobulin Principal Investigator: LI, Na

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: DOWN, Douglas, CHIANG, Fei, LEE, Joon, HEDDLE, Nancy, ARNOLD, Donald, CALLUM, Jeannie, SIDHU, Davinder, BARTY, Rebecca
Kenneth J. Fyke Award Program $100,000.00
IN-TRUST: Using a transfusion database to explore the immune-modulatory impacts of blood transfusion and the clinical impacts of blood processing changes Principal Investigator: NING, Shuoyan

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: ARNOLD, Donald, ZELLER, Michelle, ACKER, Jason, LI, Na, HEDDLE, Nancy, HILLIS, Christopher, ROCHWERG, Bram, SYED, Summer
Intramural Research Grant Program $270,352.08
RBC hemolysis and cellular effector mechanisms (RHANCEM) Principal Investigator: BRANCH, Donald

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CSERTI-GAZDEWICH, Christine, PENDERGRAST,Jacob, CALLUM, Jeannie, YI, Qilong
Intramural Research Grant Program $399,927.00
Modulation of biofilm formation, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance by Staphylococcus aureus during platelet storage Principal Investigator: RAMIREZ-ARCOS, Sandra

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: SAD, Subash, MAH, Thien-Fah
Intramural Research Grant Program $323,252.64
Fc receptors and IVIg in ITP Principal Investigator: LAZARUS, Alan

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CSERTI-GAZDEWICH, Christine, LIN, Yulia, CALLUM, Jeannie, SHOLZBERG, Michelle, NI, Heyu
Intramural Research Grant Program $432,000.00
Mechanisms of erythrocyte antibody-mediated immune suppression Principal Investigator: LAZARUS, Alan

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: NI, Heyu, SEMPLE, John
Intramural Research Grant Program $400,000.00
Revisiting the universal donor: Does exposure to O blood products affect patient outcomes? Principal Investigator: ARNOLD, Donald

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: ACKER, Jason, BUCKSTEIN, Rena, CALLUM, Jeannie, COOK, Richard, HEDDLE, Nancy, SOLH, Ziad, WEBERT, Kathryn, BARTY, Rebecca, LEBER, Brian, LALIT, Saini
Intramural Research Grant Program $378,364.97
Development of porcine equivalent RCC and plasma units for translatable ex vivo organ perfusion research Principal Investigator: ACKER, Jason

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: FREED, Darren
Intramural Research Grant Program $121,834.00
Anti-GPIb- and anti-GPIIbIIIa- mediated immune thrombocytopenia: Mechanisms and actions of intravenous IgG (IVIG) and alternative therapies Principal Investigator: NI, Heyu

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: LAZARUS, Alan, BRANCH, Donald
Intramural Research Grant Program $412,010.28
New cryosolution for stem cell-based therapeutics Principal Investigator: PINEAULT, Nicolas

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: BEN, Robert, HARPER, Marie-Ellen, CHAKRABORTY, Nilay
Intramural Research Grant Program $180,000.00
Assessing the impact of donor manufacturing characteristics on survival of transfused red blood cells Principal Investigator: TINMOUTH, Alan

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: ACKER, Jason, FERGUSSON, Dean, CHASSÉ, Michaël
Intramural Research Grant Program $90,935.00
New solution for cord blood unit preservation Principal Investigator: PINEAULT, Nicolas

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: KAUSHAL, Richa
Graduate Fellowship Program $116,500.00
Enabling next generation hematopoietic-based therapeutics and manufacturing Principal Investigator: PINEAULT, Nicolas

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: MCCOMB, Scott, JEZIERSKI, Anna, MAGALHAES, Ana, IQBAL, Umer
Intramural Research Grant Program $300,000.00
Small molecule drug development of phagocytosis inhibitors Principal Investigator: BRANCH, Donald

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: KOTRA, Lakshmi, P.
Intramural Research Grant Program $428,468.40
Translating novel clotting factor X function to threat thrombosis Principal Investigator: PRYZDIAL, Ed

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: MACVICAR, Brian, SHEFFIELD, William
Intramural Research Grant Program $369,052.00
Controlling coagulopathy and bleeding in a mouse model of hemorrhagic shock Principal Investigator: SHEFFIELD, William

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: NAZY, Ishac
Intramural Research Grant Program $274,854.00
Plasma transfusion or plasma protein product infusion in a murine model of trauma Principal Investigator: SHEFFIELD, William

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: PRYZDIAL, Edward
Intramural Research Grant Program $257,414.76
COVID-19 vaccination refusal and access to transplantation: an ethical conundrum. A legal analysis and a qualitative study with key stakeholders Principal Investigator: FORTIN, Marie-Chantal

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CHANDLER, Jennifer, GILL, Justin, GOLDBERG, Aviva, GRUBEN, Vanessa
James Kreppner Award Program $49,952.00
Mechanisms of anti-αIIb mediated miscarriage in fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia Principal Investigator: NI, Heyu

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CHEN, Zi Yan
Graduate Fellowship Program $52,000.00
Donor factors and product quality Principal Investigator: ACKER, Jason

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: YAZDANBAKHSH, Mahsa
Graduate Fellowship Program $52,000.00
Perioperative Transfusion Threshold : A Population-Based Observational Study Principal Investigator: FERGUSSON, Dean

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: VERRET, Michael
Graduate Fellowship Program $52,000.00
Deformability based cell sorting enabling quality control of stored red blood cells Principal Investigator: MA, Hongshen

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: ISLAMZADA, Emel
Graduate Fellowship Program $104,000.00
Development of a drug to replace IVIg, and ADCC as cause for unexplained hemolysis post-transfusion Principal Investigator: BRANCH, Donald

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: ALMIZRAQ, Ruqayyah
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program $165,000.00
Assessing acceptability, understanding and effectiveness of alternative screening questions for current donors Principal Investigator: FISHER, William

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: HAW, Jennie, GOLDMAN, Mindy, FOSTER, Terrie, O'BRIEN, Sheila, HOFKIRCHNER, Alexander
MSM Plasma Program $129,400.00
The Calgary Plasma Study: feasibility of implementing source plasma donation with alternative screening eligibility criteria for men who have sex with men Principal Investigator: PRESSEAU, Justin

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: GOLDMAN, Mindy, O'BRIEN, Sheila, MACPHERSON, Paul, OTIS, Joanne, FOSTER, Terrie, VESNAVER, Elisabeth, GERMAIN, Marc, ROSSER, Andrew, LAPIERRE, Don, HILL, Nolan
MSM Plasma Program $399,875.00
Support of HLA laboratory directors in-training for rotations in specialized laboratories Principal Investigator: WAGNER, Eric

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: KEOWN, Paul, LIWSKI, Robert, CAMPBELL, Patricia, BERKA, Noureddine, WANG, Jinguo, MOSTAFA, Ahmed, CHEE-LOONG, Saw, RICHARD, Lucie, CHARGÉ, Sophie, DHARSEE, Fatima
BloodTechNet Award Program $8,490.00
Reducing IVIG usage by developing novel prophylaxis therapies against FNAIT Principal Investigator: NI, Heyu

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: PASMAN, Yfke
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program $165,000.00
A machine learning based framework to analyze blood product transactional data for reducing discards Principal Investigator: CHENG, Calvino

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: ABIDI, Syed Sibte Raza, BLAKE, John, LIWSKI, Robert, QUINN, Jason, ABUSHAREKH, Ashraf, ABIDI, Samina, XIANG, Richard
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $29,950.00
McMaster Centre for Transfusion Research Principal Investigator: ARNOLD, Donald

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee:
Transfusion Medicine Research Program Support Award $1,303,333.50
Demonstration of genetic blood group transition in patients undergoing ABO-mismatched hematopoietic stem cell transplantation by peripheral blood quantitative polymerase chain reaction targeting the ABO locus Principal Investigator: SHIH, Andrew

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: LAZO-LANGER, Alejandro, D'SOUZA, David, CALLUM, Jeannie, LEUNG, Eric, CHIN-YEE, Ian
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $15,990.00
University of Toronto QUEST Research Program Principal Investigator: CALLUM, Jeannie

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee:
Transfusion Medicine Research Program Support Award $1,290,733.50
Addressing racial disparity in blood, stem cell, and organ and tissue donor pools Principal Investigator: FINGRUT, Warren

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: OKONOFUA, Sylvia, YAN, Matthew, KHANDELWAL, Aditi, PENDERGRAST, Jacob, LEEIES, Murdoch, TINGA, Biba, HAW, Jennie, JAGELAVICIUTE, Gabriela, ROSENFELD, Aaron, KHANOLKAR, Rutvij, SEGALL, Romy, BELLINI, Jonathan, MORAKINYO, Tobi, AGYEPONG, Revée
BloodTechNet Award Program $34,150.00
Transcriptome analyses of Staphylococcus aureus grown in platelet concentrates with focus on virulence Principal Investigator: RAMIREZ-ARCOS, Sandra

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: DA SILVA PAREDES, Carina
Graduate Fellowship Program $52,000.00