Our Funded Research Projects

Updated September 2023

Title Principal Investigator / Supervisor Program Sort descending Project Start Date Project End Date Total $ Awarded
Optimizing rejuvenation to improve the product quality of pathogen-inactivation and γ-irradiated red cell concentrates Principal Investigator: SHEFFIELD, William

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: QADRI, Syed, SCHUBERT, Peter, DEVINE, Dana
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $30,000.00
Informing the distribution of COVID-19 convalescent plasma through implementation of CONCOR-1 in British Columbia Principal Investigator: SHIH, Andrew

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: VASARHELYI, Krisztina, MANUSHA, Stephania Anna, STEINER, Ted, MCMASTER, Robert, DALY, Patricia, LI, Na, DOWN, Douglas, HEDDLE, Nancy, PETRASZKO, Tanya, LIOW, Eric, PAVLOVICH, Sasha, RUTHERFORD, Alexander
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $30,000.00
Management of iron deficiency anemia in the pediatric emergency department: Pilot study of red blood cell transfusion versus IV iron therapy Principal Investigator: LIEBMAN, Mira

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: PAMBRUN, Chantale, JAIN, Rini, SIMPSON, Ewurabena, HAMID, Jemila
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $29,831.00
IVIG utilization and its impact on platelet count in pregnant women with moderate thrombocytopenia Principal Investigator: KHALIFE, Roy

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: TINMOUTH, Alan, EL-CHAAR, Darine, MACK, Jonathan, KAROVITCH, Alan, FERGUSSON, Dean, WEBERT, Kathryn
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $22,217.25
Rapid verification variant D phenotype by genotyping in a regional laboratory Principal Investigator: BERARDI, Philip

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: FUNG KEE FUNG, Karen, GIULIVI, Antonio, NEURATH, Doris, CLARKE, Gwen
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $30,000.00
Establishing national best practices for out-of-hospital blood transfusion: A collaboration of the Canadian Prehospital and Transport Transfusion (CAN-PATT) network Principal Investigator: BRODIE, Nolan

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: TROJANOWSKI, Jan, SHIH, Andrew, GREENE, Adam, EVANS, Rob, MULVEY, Jamin, CHANG, Eddie, NAHIRNIAK, Susan, PEARSON, Dallas, PROKOPCHUK-GAUK, Oksana, MARTIN, Doug, MUSUKA, Charles, SEIDL, Cindy, PEDDLE, Michael, LIN, Yulia, SMITH, Justin, MACDONALD, Scott, RICHARDS, Lindsay, FARRELL, Michael, KHANDELWAL, Aditi, CALLUM, Jeannie
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $30,000.00
Blood product demand forecast modeling using clinical predictors Principal Investigator: DOWN, Douglas

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: BLAKE, John , TRIFUNOV, Rick, COURTNEY, Thomas, HEDDLE, Nancy, CHIANG, Fei, LI, Na
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $30,000.00
Optimizing Pre-Chemotherapy Anemia in Gynecologic Oncology (OPRA-2): A quality improvement initiative Principal Investigator: VICUS, Danielle

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: SPÉNARD, Elisabeth, LIN, Yulia, KHANDELWAL, Aditi, TANO, Ruby, JADUNANDAN, Saudia, KNIGHT, Dawn
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $30,000.00
Are cervical cancer brachytherapy outcomes associated with pre-brachytherapy hemoglobin values and transfusion practice? An observational study comparing two academic centres. Principal Investigator: SOLH, Ziad

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: LAZO-LANGER, Alejandro, D'SOUZA, David, CALLUM, Jeannie, LEUNG, Eric, CHIN-YEE, Ian
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $27,669.50
Demonstration of genetic blood group transition in patients undergoing ABO-mismatched allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation by peripheral blood quantitative polymerase chain reaction targeting the ABO locus – Full Study Principal Investigator: SHIH, Andrew

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: WANG, Xiu Qing, MCGINNIS, Eric, STUBBINS, Ryan, HUDOBA, Monika, PETRASZKO, Tanya
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $30,000.00
Measurement of heavy metals in donor blood in Canada Principal Investigator: DEVINE, Dana

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: SERRANO, Katherine, LEVIN, Elena, MURPHY, Michael, BARAKAUSKAS, Vilte, HADJESFAMDOARI, Narges, ARRIETA, Angele, RICHARDSON-SANCHEZ, Tomas
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $29,971.00
Cold- versus room-temperature storage of platelets for bleeding in hematologic malignancy trials (CoVeRTS-HM Trial) Principal Investigator: MACK, Johnathan

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: TINMOUTH, Alan, FERGUSSON, Dean, SABLOFF, Mitchell
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $26,385.00
A study to understand C1 esterase inhibitor distribution and patterns of use in Canada Principal Investigator: ARNOLD, Donald

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: HEDDLE, Nancy, KEITH, Paul, WASERMAN, SUSAN, WEBERT, Kathryn, NING, Shuoyan, SHIH, Andrew, MORRISON, Doug, YAN, Matthew
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $29,858.62
Feasibility in Canada for a non-invasive prenatal testing using single-exon fetal RHD determination Principal Investigator: ACKER, Jason

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CLARKE, Gwen, BHATTI, Aniqa
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $20,000.00
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
A program to minimize preventable and inappropriate blood product transfusions in liver surgery Principal Investigator: MARTEL, Guillaume

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: BAKER, Laura, TINMOUTH, Alan, SAIDENBERG, Elianna, WHERRETT, Christopher, WORKNEH, Aklile
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $20,000.00
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
Assessment of the quality of granulocyte concentrates to optimise their use in transfusion therapy Principal Investigator: FERNANDES, Maria

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: GIRARD, Melissa, BRANCH, Donald
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $30,000.00
Evaluating unintentional warming of glycerolized red cell concentrates Principal Investigator: ACKER, Jason

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CLARKE, Gwen, TURNER, Tracy, OLAFSON, Carly, MYKHAILOVA, Olga
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $25,000.00
Blood utilization epidemiological profile to evaluate appropriate use (BLUE) Principal Investigator: ZELLER, Michelle

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: ARNOLD, Donald, WEBERT, Kathryn, HEDDLE, Nancy, NING, Shuoyan, BARTY, Rebecca
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $29,964.00
A Framework for Accelerated Synthesis of Trial Evidence – FAST Evidence - to assess efficacy of mesenchymal stromal cells and convalescent plasma for COVID-19 Principal Investigator: ALLAN, David

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: TINMOUTH, Alan, FERGUSSON, Dean, LALU, Manoj
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $25,000.00
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
Stem Cell Transplantation Multimedia Toolkit Principal Investigator: FINGRUT, Warren

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: ALLAN, David, MESSNER, Hans, PETRASZKO, Tanya, ZUCCHET, Alyssa, DONNELLY, Sarah, HAMM, Taylor, THATCHER, Alicia, LADD, Aedan, CHAN, Sam, SUPPIAH, Roopa, WINQUIST, Lauren, LAU, Janny, PIETROBAN, Adam, LONDON, Sydney, COLES, Jenna
BloodTechNet Award Program $2,000.00
Developing educational tools and resources to improve living donor care Principal Investigator: SANDAL, Shaifali

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: NUGUS, Peter, FORTIN, Marie-Chantal, LOBAN, Katya, BUGEJA, Ann, MAINRA, Rahul, DIPCHAND, Christine, BADENOCH, Heather
BloodTechNet Award Program $50,000.00
Better blood transfusion - Phase two Principal Investigator: O'REILLY, Clare

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: PARKE, Graham, MORRISON, Douglas, CHIPPERFIELD, Kate, EVELEIGH, Shari, WILSON, Sophie
BloodTechNet Award Program $5,250.00
Development of internet modules for serology curriculum delivery Principal Investigator: YAN, Matthew

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: PENDERGRAST, Jacob, TAIT, Gordon
BloodTechNet Award Program $35,500.00
Virtual transfusions competency assessment Principal Investigator: VAN VLIET, Paula

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: DEYDEY, Kim, WESOLOWSKI, Mike
BloodTechNet Award Program $32,795.00
Applying educational tools of knowledge translation to reduce the inappropriate use of plasma in Ontario: a collaboration between Canadian Blood Services and Ontario hospitals Principal Investigator: SOLH, Ziad

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: SKEATE, Robert, BERTA, Donna, CALLUM, Jeannie, LIMA, Ana, ZELLER, Michelle, ELAHIE, Allahna, HEDDLE, Nancy, THOMPSON, Troy, TINMOUTH, Alan, SHEHATA, Nadine, ILAGAN, Cesario
BloodTechNet Award Program $7,200.00
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
The Stem Cell Club: educating medical and nursing students to develop professional skills Principal Investigator: FINGRUT, Warren

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee:
BloodTechNet Award Program $24,458.00
Blood and stem cell donation for men who have sex with men in Canada: A toolkit for healthcare professionals Principal Investigator: FINGRUT, Warren

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: GOLDMAN, Mindy, SHIH, Andrew, ELMOAZZEN, Heidi, ALLAN, David, PETRASZKO, Tanya, YAN, Matthew, COUPAL, Dylan, SEGALL, Romy, CHOWDHURY, Fuad, CAI, Helen, KUMAR, Shamini Vijaya, TRAADE, Daniel, ROSENFELD, Aaron, KAVEH, Farrokhi
BloodTechNet Award Program $20,000.00
Social media for knowledge translation and education 3 (SoMe-KTE3): Transfusion, thrombosis, and hemostasis Principal Investigator: SHIH, Andrew

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CHAN, Teresa, DE WIT, Kristin, BHAGIRATH, Vinai, YEH, Calvin, CASTELLUCI, Lana, ELAHIE, Allahna, HEDDLE, Nancy, THOMA, Brent
BloodTechNet Award Program $30,000.00
Pediatric Transfusion Camp Principal Investigator: LIEBERMAN, Lani

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: LIN, Yulia, CALLUM, Jeannie, WALSH, Catherine, CHARGÉ, Sophie, WILLIAMS, Suzanne, FARONI, David, MEMA, Briseida, LACROIX, Jacque, LAU, Wendy, ROBITAILLE, Nancy, FINAN, Emer, HUME, Heather, HASPEL, Richard, ATKINSON, Adelle, SCOLNIK, Dennis
BloodTechNet Award Program $10,500.00
Podcast for FNAIT and ICTMG red cell specifications for hemoglobinopathies guidelines Principal Investigator: SHEHATA, Nadine

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee:
BloodTechNet Award Program $6,200.00
Transfusion CONsent by a Standardized Evidence-based Novel Tool (Transfusion- CONSENT): Creating and validating novel tools to assess competence in obtaining transfusion consent Principal Investigator: LAUREANO, Marissa

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: KHANDELWAL, Aditi, HASPEL, Richard, FUNG, Mark, LANE, Shannon, ZELLER, Michelle
BloodTechNet Award Program $8,524.00
PID (Primary Immune Deficiency) Toolkit App Principal Investigator: DARNEL, Susanna

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: LI, Cecilia, BEAUCHAMP, Aimee, MORRISON, Doug, DALLAS, Karen, MICHAAN, Jack, TAVASZI, Alina, DENESIN, Pam, FUNG, Rene, British Columbia Primary Immune Deficiency (PID) Group Members
BloodTechNet Award Program $25,000.00
An interactive virtual tour of blood product manufacturing at Canadian Blood Services Principal Investigator: BODNAR, Melanie

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CHARGÉ, Sophie, YAN, Mathew, ABE, Tricia, TORDON, Bryan, CLARKE, Gwen
BloodTechNet Award Program $20,000.00
An innovative digital strategy for dissemination of Choosing Wisely Canada guidelines in transfusion medicine Principal Investigator: CAMPBELL, Clinton

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: LABRECQUE, Suzanne, LABELLE, Peter, AL-JEDANI, Hanadi, SADEK, Irene, KAHWASH, Eiad
BloodTechNet Award Program $25,000.00
Transfusion requirements in cardiac surgery (TRICS II) Principal Investigator: SHEHATA, Nadine

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee:
Canadian Blood Services-CIHR Partnership New Investigator Program $300,000.00
Code sepsis: defining and translating optimal resuscitation and care for children with septic shock Principal Investigator: PARKER, Melissa

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee:
Canadian Blood Services-CIHR Partnership New Investigator Program $300,000.00
Expanding treatment options for inflammatory bowel disease: A novel mechanism of antibody-based immunotherapy Principal Investigator: SLY, Laura

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: HORWITZ, Marc, BRESSLER, Brian, RASSEKH, Rod, TURVEY, Stuart
Canadian Blood Services-CIHR Partnership Operating Grant Program $408,540.60
Tranexamic acid versus placebo to reduce perioperative blood transfusion in patients undergoing major liver resection: a pilot randomized controlled trial Principal Investigator: KARANICOLAS, Paul

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: GUYATT, Gordon H. , CHAUDHURY, Prosanto K. , DIXON, Elijah , LIN, Yulia , McCLUSKEY, Stuart A. , PORTER, Geoffrey A. , TARSHIS, Jordan , WEI, Alice C.
Canadian Blood Services-CIHR Partnership Operating Grant Program $248,319.00
Exploratory analyses to determine if method of donor blood processing affects outcome in transfused recipients Principal Investigator: HEDDLE, Nancy

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: ACKER, Jason P. , ARNOLD, Donald M. , COOK, Richard J. , EIKELBOOM, John W. , O'BRIEN, Sheila F. , WEBERT, Kathryn E.
Canadian Blood Services-CIHR Partnership Operating Grant Program $159,878.00
Understanding host mechanisms responsible for immune platelet destruction and thrombocytopenia Principal Investigator: SEMPLE, John

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee:
Canadian Blood Services-CIHR Partnership Operating Grant Program $406,003.00
Examining the relationship between repeated blood donations in female donors on maternal/neonatal outcomes: a cohort study Principal Investigator: TINMOUTH, Alan

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CHASSE, Michael, FERGUSSON, Dean A., GOLDMAN, Mindy R., O'BRIEN, Sheila F., SPRAGUE, Ann, van WALRAVEN, Carl, WALKER, Mark C., WILSON, Kumanan
Canadian Blood Services-CIHR Partnership Operating Grant Program $135,657.00
Polyhemoglobin catalase superoxide dismutase carbonic anhydrase: a novel soluble biotherapeutic with no cardiac toxicity for hemorrhagic shock and other uses Principal Investigator: CHANG, Thomas

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee:
Canadian Blood Services-CIHR Partnership Operating Grant Program $224,520.00
Identification of host cellular immune mechanisms responsible for the initiation and/or modulation of Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI) Principal Investigator: SEMPLE, John

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: KUEBLER, Wolfgang M.
Canadian Blood Services-CIHR Partnership Operating Grant Program $398,982.00
Characterization of the hematopoietic reconstitution enhancing activity of osteoblasts derived from human mesenchymal stromal cells Principal Investigator: PINEAULT, Nicolas

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CAMPBELL, Pearl , GARNIER, Alain
Canadian Blood Services-CIHR Partnership Operating Grant Program $320,504.00
Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury and delayed TRALI: a prospective study in critically ill children Principal Investigator: EMERIAUD, Guillaume

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: DU PONT-THIBIDEAU, Genevieve, FONTELA, Patricia S. , GAUVIN, France, GILFOYLE, Elaine, HUTCHISON, James S., LACROIX, Jacques, MENON, Kusum, ROBITAILLE, Nancy, TINMOUTH, Alan T., TROTTIER, Helen
Canadian Blood Services-CIHR Partnership Operating Grant Program $477,651.00
The use of antibody-mediated immune suppression as a model in the development of a replacement for RhD prophylaxis in haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn Principal Investigator: LAZARUS, Alan

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee:
Canadian Blood Services-CIHR Partnership Operating Grant Program $620,822.00