Thinking, making and asking better questions: A conversation with Dr. Zimring

This post was written by Kerryn Matthews, a research associate in Dr. Zimring’s lab located in the Centre for Blood Research at the University of British Columbia (UBC). It originally appeared in May 2026 on the Centre for Blood Research website and has been reposted with permission.  

The Centre for Blood Research recently spoke with Dr. James (Jim) C. Zimring, the new Chief Science Officer at Canadian Blood Services and Principal Investigator at the Centre for Blood Research. Known for his curiosity-driven approach to science, Jim’s work spans fundamental immunology, transfusion biology, and the complex questions that sit at the interface between basic discovery and patient care.

In this interview, he shares his vision for research at Canadian Blood Services, his passion for critical thinking in science, and the creative pursuits that keep him busy outside the lab. 

A national role in advancing blood research

As Chief Science Officer, Jim oversees a broad and multifaceted research portfolio at Canadian Blood Services. The organization conducts research across many areas, from infectious disease surveillance to developing technologies that help ensure the safety of the blood supply. 

“Canadian Blood Services does research at many different levels,” he explains. “From monitoring infectious diseases that could affect the blood supply to developing technologies that improve transfusion safety. 

Much of this work sits within the organization’s Innovation division, which Jim leads. However, he emphasizes that research and scholarly activities extend throughout the organization. 

“There are academic and research-based activities across Canadian Blood Services that don’t fall directly under that division but are equally important,” he says. 

The role also involves representing the organization to the broader scientific community. Jim regularly speaks at international meetings and engages with researchers and clinicians working in transfusion medicine and related fields. Another important component of the job is ensuring that new knowledge reaches the people who need it. 

“We also focus on knowledge mobilization, educating clinicians, patients, and the broader public about the work Canadian Blood Services does.” 

Curiosity-driven science 

Despite his national leadership role, Jim remains deeply motivated by scientific discovery itself. When asked about his goals for the coming years, his answer reflects a lifelong commitment to learning. “Learn as much as I can before I die,” he says with a smile. 

Scientifically, at the Centre for Blood Research, he plans to continue exploring the biology of transfusion and oxidative stress, areas that connect fundamental cell biology with real-world clinical questions. A hallmark of his work is building new tools and systems to explore questions that previously could not be asked. 

“I like developing methods and tools to help ask questions we can’t ask with current technologies” he says. 

This maker mindset extends beyond experimental systems to a broader intellectual goal: improving how scientists think about science itself. 

Jim has previously taught a course on critical thinking in science, and he hopes to bring a version of that class to the University of British Columbia. The course focuses on understanding how scientific knowledge is generated, how mistakes happen, and what scientists can learn from those moments. 

“It’s about learning from people who study us,” he explains. “They teach us things about ourselves that we might not otherwise see.” 

He also sees communication as an essential part of his mission. 

“One of my goals is to be an ambassador for science to the broader public, explaining what science is, how it’s done, why we sometimes get things wrong, and what those failures actually mean.” 

Jim’s approach to collaboration is similarly rooted in intellectual curiosity. Rather than focusing narrowly on a particular discipline, he is drawn to people who approach science with openness and creativity. 

“If you like thinking, and thinking about thinking, then I’m interested in thinking with you,” he says. He values collaborations where different perspectives combine to produce ideas that are larger than the sum of their parts. 

“I’m interested in working with people who know things I don’t know and can teach me things I don’t understand, while I share things with them that they might not know,” he says.  

“The best collaborations are the ones where one plus one equals six.” 

Advice for the next generation 

For students and trainees considering a career in science, Jim offers simple but direct advice. 

“If you don’t love it, don’t do it,” he says. “It’s too damn hard.” 

Research demands persistence, creativity, and resilience, qualities that come more naturally when driven by genuine passion for discovery. 

Creativity beyond the lab

Outside of science, Jim channels the same curiosity and creativity into a wide range of pursuits. He is a published author whose books, What Science Is and How It Really Works and Partial Truths: How Fractions Distort Our Thinking, explore how scientific knowledge is generated and how people interpret data and evidence. Writing, he says, is both therapeutic and intellectually stimulating. 

Jim enjoys making things with his hands. A skilled carpenter, he works with oak and maple, while in the kitchen he experiments with baking, from sourdough to other breads, treating each loaf as a creative project. In his garden, he experiments with hydroponics and plant breeding, most recently crossing shishito and bell peppers to produce a teeny bell-shaped pepper that tastes like both. 

Jim is an avid skier, and looks forward to hitting the slopes at Whistler. He enjoys spending time with his family, as well as what he jokingly calls their “fur people”: a dog, a cat, and another creature he describes as a “cat-like mammal.” 

When asked what career he might have pursued if not science, his answer reflects a similar sense of purpose. 

“I probably would have been an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union,” he says, drawn to the idea of protecting his fellow citizens from their own government. 

Whether in science, writing, carpentry, or gardening, Dr. Zimring’s work reflects a common theme: curiosity, creativity, and a deep commitment to understanding how things work. 

And, perhaps just as importantly, asking better questions. 

To learn more about research at Canadian Blood Services, including our research team members, visit blood.ca: 

Canadian Blood Services Research Team

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.