New research publications: August 2025

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 provides an overview of the latest research publications that have been authored by Canadian Blood Services staff scientists in discovery, development 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 August, we are reporting a total of 8 peer-reviewed research articles indicated by research focus area:  

Discovery (4): These studies investigate new drug prospects, clotting risks from gut bacteria, the impact of manufacturing on red blood cells from donors with diabetes, and a platelet protein that may guard against heart disease.

Donation policy & studies (1): These studies investigate new drug prospects, clotting risks from gut bacteria, the impact of manufacturing on red blood cells from donors with diabetes, and a platelet protein that may guard against heart disease.

Development (1): Researchers tested a prototype, DEHP-free bag for storing red blood cells, finding it offers a promising alternative to current materials that are anticipated to be phased out in 2030.

Adjunct scientists (1): Researchers tested a prototype, DEHP-free bag for storing red blood cells, finding it offers a promising alternative to current materials that are anticipated to be phased out in 2030.

Other Canadian Blood Services affiliations (1): Medical team members penned a reply to a recent publication describing how specialized doctors focused on organ donation are helping improve donation rates and reducing missed donation opportunities in hospitals.

Where we published 

Our research appeared in 7 journals, including the Journal of Biological Chemistry, JAMA Network Open and Transfusion. 

Spotlight on select publications 

• In vitro quality of whole blood-derived red cell concentrates collected, processed and stored in a blood bag set plasticized with di (2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate. 
  
  “DEHP makes plastic flexible, and has been used in the manufacturing of blood collection and storage bags for almost 70 years. Spurred by concerns about DEHP’s safety, new regulations in the European Union will effectively ban DEHP in blood bags manufactured or used in the EU from July 2030. This is a big shift for the blood transfusion field in general, and for Canadian Blood Services specifically, as we procure our bags from European manufacturers. 
  
  This study reports on the quality of red blood cells produced using a prototype DEHP-free bag set and Canadian Blood Services’ main component production process. The findings show that these bags are a feasible alternative to DEHP-containing bags, producing red blood cells that are expected to meet current Canadian quality control requirements. The findings support the continuation of a 42-day shelf life for red blood cells but reiterate the need for ongoing research to better understand blood product quality in a DEHP-free future.” 
  
  Dr. Geraldine Walsh, Canadian Blood Services lead development scientist.  
   
• Manufacturing stresses do not differentially impact red blood cells from donors with diabetes. 
  
  "Going into this study, we thought routine blood component manufacturing might amplify stress in red cells from donors with diabetes. It did not. Whole blood and day 2 red cell products from donors with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and age/sex-matched donors without diabetes showed similar deformability and hemolysis, while whole blood and day 2 red cells from blood donors with type 2 diabetes had features such as lower hemoglobin concentration per cell and decreased oxygen affinity present before and after processing. This tells us that donor health and not the processing steps are driving these differences. Our next steps will be to assess platelet and red blood cell concentrate quality from donors with diabetes over their routine storage periods prior to transfusion." 
  
  Celina Phan, Canadian Blood Services trainee. 
   
• Quality Improvement in Deceased Organ Donation-The Role of the Donation Physician Specialist. 
  
  "In Alberta, ICU physicians focused on deceased organ donation in the ICU are known as "SEND" physicians - specialists in end-of-life care, neuroprognostication and donation. While the rationale for these roles is sensible and compelling, their impact as an isolated intervention had never been proven in a prospective fashion. In a first-of-its-kind study published in JAMA Network Open, Alberta investigators compared outcomes before and after the implementation of these physician roles in the province, finding fewer missed opportunities to approach families, better referral rates, and increased organ donations.  
  
  In our invited commentary article replying to this publication, we acknowledge the findings of the Alberta-based study, noting that the demonstrated impact of the Alberta SEND physicians should be applauded and that system-level interventions to reduce missed donation opportunities should be the focus of further donation research." 
  
  Dr. Sam Shemie, Canadian Blood Services medical consultant. 

Our August publications list 

Items in this list are identified using a process that relies on the PubMed database. While we aim to capture all relevant research articles published during the month, limitations in database indexing and search parameters may occasionally cause articles to be missed. If you are the author of an article that you believe has been missed from this monthly list, we encourage you to contact us at centreforinnovation@blood.ca to inquire.    

• Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Small Molecule Inhibitors of Immune Cytopenias. 
  Lewis-Bakker MM, Wasilewski E, Loriamini M, Wang S, Branch DR, Kotra LP. ACS Omega. 2025 Jul 25;10(30):33401-33414. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.5c03645. PMID: 40787340
  _{*Originally published in July and not included in our previous month's capture.} 

• High-fat diet increases circulating palmitic acid produced by gut Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron to promote thrombosis. 
  Huang X, Tang X, He Q, Tadese DA, Cao K, Gao J, Xu Q, Cheng R, Lu Q, Chen Y, Yang M, Du Y, Mwangi J, Ni H, Lai R. Cell Rep Med. 2025 Aug 19;6(8):102260. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102260. PMID: 40749683 
  _{*Originally published in July and not included in our previous month's capture.}

• Quality Improvement in Deceased Organ Donation-The Role of the Donation Physician Specialist. 
  Shemie SD, Zavalkoff S.JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Aug 1;8(8):e2526074. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.26074.PMID: 40773202

• The platelet concentrate storage environment may enhance the ability of Cutibacterium acnes to establish chronic infections. 
  Kumaran D, Ramirez-Arcos S. Transfusion. 2025 Aug 3. doi: 10.1111/trf.18368. PMID: 40755047

• In vitro quality of whole blood-derived red cell concentrates collected, processed and stored in a blood bag set plasticized with di (2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate. 
  Stephenson T, Howell A, Olafson C, Sumian C, Reichenberg S, Brebant Q, McTaggart K, Walsh GM. Vox Sang. 2025 Aug 6. doi: 10.1111/vox.70087. PMID: 40769770 

• Manufacturing stresses do not differentially impact red blood cells from donors with diabetes. 
  Phan C, Rowe EM, Yazdanbakhsh M, Kurach J, Brandon-Coatham M, Devine DV, Johnson JD, Acker JP. Vox Sang. 2025 Aug 6. doi: 10.1111/vox.70084. PMID: 40769717 

• Platelet Jak2-deficiency accelerates atherosclerosis with increased inflammatory response. 
  Kim D, Li YZ, Yang J, Lin B, Wang MY, Yu Liu JJ, Adam Bai JQ, Farber G, Razzaq FA, Pollock-Tahiri E, Khoury C, Lei X, Zhu G, Wagner KU, Tikhonova AA, Ni H, Woo M.J Biol Chem. 2025 Aug 16:110603. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2025.110603. PMID: 40825505 

• Guidance for Prenatal, Postnatal and Neonatal Immunohaematology Testing in Canada: Consensus Recommendations from a Modified Delphi Process. 
  Lieberman L, Walsh CM, Barty R, Callum J, Yan MTS, VanderMeulen H, Robitaille N, Fung Kee Fung K, Ng E, Hume H, Barrett J, Berman R, Colpitts M, Dowe E, de Vrijer B, Ellis S, Fam PN, Grabowska K, Grundland B, Harrold J, Khurshid F, Massey E, McAuley C, Naik N, Okun N, Osepchook C, Pai M, Parsons M, Price V, Rujuis D, Ryan G, Shuman M, Somerset D, Stewardson J, Taillefer C, Tehseen S, Thorne J, Vlachodimitropoulou E, White H, Wilson A, Clarke G. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2025 Aug 27:103088. doi: 10.1016/j.jogc.2025.103088. PMID: 40882839 

We are proud of the remarkable work being done across Canadian Blood Services’ network. Stay tuned for more blog posts as we continue to advance scientific discovery and innovation for the Canadian blood system. 

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.