New research publications: June 2026

Each month, our R.E.D. blog showcases the activities of our research and education network and the innovation and collaboration that drives our scientific community forward. Included in these activities are the peer-reviewed publications in academic journals that are a main avenue for researchers to share their scientific findings. With a focus on methodology and a rigorous review process prior to publication, these publications are recognized as credible and reliable sources of scientific information.

This blog – part of a recurring monthly recap – provides an overview of the latest research publications that have been authored by Canadian Blood Services staff scientists in discovery, development, medical microbiology and donation policy & studies; adjunct scientists; medical experts and trainees; and/or resulting from supported projects or partnerships.  

Visit blood.ca to learn more about Our Research Team and to search our full publication database (updated annually).

By the numbers

For the month of June, we are reporting a total of 11 peer-reviewed research articles. Beginning April 1, 2026, the categories used in this section have been modified to better align with our research network’s current focus areas:

Discovery (4): These studies combine laboratory, preclinical, and observational research to show how blood and immune system processes influence disease and treatment outcomes.

Development (1): This paper analyzes how to better manage blood products with unpredictable demand.

Medical microbiology (2): These two studies show how evolving screening approaches can detect rare or low-level infections, while raising important considerations for blood safety with practical donor management.

Other (4): These papers highlight how blood safety and transfusion practices are being improved across settings through guidelines, surveys, clinical tools, and global analyses.

Where we published

Our research appeared in 7 journals, including Blood, Transfusion and Drug Resistance Updates.   

Spotlight on select publications

• International survey on the management of IgA deficiency: The BEST Collaborative Study. 

  “IgA deficiency, with the production of anti-IgA antibodies causing anaphylactic reactions, is a rare cause of anaphylactic transfusion reactions. However, this is a difficult area, since many people are IgA deficient or have very low IgA levels and have anti-IgA antibodies, but do not have reactions. There is therefore considerable variability in laboratory, clinical, and blood centre management in the measurement, transfusion policies, and donor screening for IgA deficiency. Canadian Blood Services has been active in this area for many years. We contributed to a publication reviewing the topic and have an article about management of IgA deficiency on our professional educational website, profedu.ca. 

  The current study, led by our colleagues at Héma-Québec, is a good example of the kind of studies that the BEST group can do, summarizing international practice in many facets of this issue. It will help transfusion medicine professionals assess how their policies compare to others in the field. For example, at Canadian Blood Services, we may consider if plasma units from rare IgA deficient donors could be stored for longer periods of time.” 

  Dr. Mindy Goldman, Canadian Blood Services, medical consultant 

• Size (and frequency) matter: Evaluating the best management practices for blood products with spotty demand.  

  “Blood inventory management is challenging because products expire and thus irregular demand can lead to high wastage. This paper summarizes a series of studies on managing inventory for products with “spotty” demand. Using computational techniques similar to those behind AI, we solve small- to medium-sized problems exactly, then compare these optimal solutions with simpler, approximate methods.  

  This comparison shows when basic ordering rules are sufficient and when more advanced methods are needed. We find that when average demand is about one unit per day, simple policies perform well. However, when demand is highly variable or infrequent, more sophisticated approaches, like machine learning, lead to better outcomes. A corollary of our analysis helps explain why simple ordering policies perform well for red blood cell (RBC) demand in practice.” 

  Dr. John Blake, Canadian Blood Services, research engineer 

Our June publications list

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.