Research. Education. Discovery.

The Centre for Innovation is delighted to announce the winners of the 2020-2021 Canadian Blood Services Lay Science Writing Competition. Read on to find out who won!

You may be aware that there’s no deferral for blood donors after they receive a vaccine against COVID-19. But you might be wondering how the blood operators made this decision. Canadian Blood Services' medical director for donor and clinical services, Dr. Mindy Goldman, answers questions.

A pandemic, and a possible blood-derived treatment, means blood operators like Canadian Blood Services have found themselves playing a unique role in national and international clinical trials. Canadian Blood Services social scientist, Dr. Kelly Holloway, and her collaborators, were recently awarded funding to understand the role and experience of blood operators as they navigate this new landscape.

For the 200 Nova Scotians waiting for a lifesaving organ or tissue transplant, new legislation offers hope.

A study conducted by researchers in the University of Toronto QUEST program, a research collaborative supported by Canadian Blood Services, looked at what can be done to reduce the number of inappropriate red blood cell transfusions in hospitals.

With an anticipated global shortage of immune globulin products, finding alternatives to IVIg can help improve availability of a drug in high demand. A recent study shows that eltrombopag, an oral medication that stimulates the production of platelets, is an effective alternative to IVIg for patients with immune thrombocytopenia who need surgery.