Canadian Blood Services’ research expertise featured in first-of-its-kind AABB book

What makes this book particularly notable is its scope and intention. Developed over the past two years, the project brought together an international network of experts across Canada, the U.S, Australia and the U.K. From the beginning, contributors were invited to shape its direction, co-authoring chapters on foundational concepts, qualitative methods and applied research approaches. 

As Canadian Blood Services scientist, Dr. Jennie Haw explains: 

“It’s an example of international networks and partnerships that we (Drs. Holloway and Haw) are a part of. What’s unique about this book is that it’s really tailored to transfusion medicine, and all the examples are written with a transfusion audience in mind. Each chapter focuses on an empirical methodology and includes an example of that approach applied in the transfusion setting. There aren’t very many of us that do this work, we had to really draw on strong connections with collaborators.” 

Dr. Haw is featured in the book as the author of chapters on 9, 20 and 21 while also being one of the section editors for the Qualitative Research Designs portion. Dr. Kelly Holloway, also a scientist at Canadian Blood Services, also penned chapters 1, 20, 21 and 23.  

Further Canadian Blood Services-affiliated contributors included: 

Bringing qualitative research into the spotlight 

A key innovation of this publication is its strong emphasis on qualitative research, an area not always recognized as central to scientific inquiry in TM.  

Dr. Kelly Holloway highlights: 

“The editor, Dr. Quentin Eichbaum, saw qualitative research as a necessary part of this textbook.” 

The book not only introduces qualitative approaches but demonstrates their value through practical, real-world examples. Uniquely, each methodological chapter includes an Example Article and a Commentary by the chapter authors on how well the article utilizes the particular design – helping readers see how these approaches can be used in practice.  

Editor Dr. Quentin Eichbaum says:  

“In conceiving of and editing this unique book, one of my main intentions was to bring to the attention of the transfusion community a broader range of research designs than are currently used - especially qualitative and mixed methods designs. From my own engagement in the social sciences and medical education, I was fully aware of these designs but they were under-utilized in transfusion medicine. I struggled to find authors to contribute chapters on these designs until I discovered this accomplished group of Canadian transfusionists who were experts in the field.” 

An example of a qualitative design is the narrative inquiry chapter that draws on patient stories to explore lived experiences, with critical discussion of a real study to guide readers through both interpretation and application. 

This is not just a theoretical textbook though; it is designed to be a practical tool for the TM community, not only early-and mid-career researchers but also accomplished researchers seeking new approaches to answer their research questions. Whether someone is new to research or looking to expand their methodological toolkit, the book aims to meet them where they are. 

As Dr. Haw notes: 

“The idea is that anyone working in TM who wants to know more to develop research skills can pick this up and find chapters relevant to the work they are doing.” 

From trainees to experienced professionals, the book helps bridge a critical gap that makes research design more accessible and applicable across diverse roles in the field. Importantly, the book acknowledges that this area is still evolving. While it showcases multiple qualitative methodologies, there are many that have not been applied to the field of transfusion medicine yet. 

Advancing knowledge through partnership 

The creation of this resource reflects a broader story of collaborative power and knowledge mobilization. Contributors from multiple blood operations around the world all worked together under Dr. Eichbaum’s leadership to develop content that is both globally relevant and grounded in real practice.  

Looking ahead, as this book is shared more widely, it has the potential to influence not only how research is conducted in TM but also how it is taught and applied, marking an important step forward for the field. 

For more information and to view the preface, download sample pages or to buy the textbook, visit the AABB website store. Congratulations to the many Canadian Blood Services-affiliated contributors on this exciting showcase of expertise within our research network! 

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.