How Canadian Blood Services is advancing a legacy of research excellence: Announcing the Innovation and Portfolio Management Impact Report 2024–2025

Canadian Blood Services’ innovation and portfolio management (I&PM) team supports research and education initiatives for the Canadian blood system. Our annual I&PM Impact Report compiles stories that showcase how the collective achievements of the team support our shared purpose: to help every patient, match every need and serve every Canadian.   

About the report 

This edition of the report is dedicated to the late Dr. Dana Devine, former chief scientist and beloved member of the Canadian Blood Services community. The title, Advancing a Legacy of Research Excellence, nods to the immense impact Dr. Devine left on transfusion medicine both in Canada and around the world, and how our continued research and education activities strengthen the field while supporting trainees to become leaders of the future.  

The year at a glance 

Among the successes highlighted in this year’s report are key statistics about how we invest in our people, our knowledge generation activities, and how we share evidence to mobilize knowledge.  

A curated set of spotlights in the report describe the partnerships and ongoing research projects that are making an impact in four key areas:  

• advancements in clinical practice and treatment 
• advancements in testing 
• advancements in training, education and leadership 
• adherence to safety, quality, and improvement measures 

New this year are people spotlights that showcase some of the team members behind these key research and education activities – including trainees, award recipients, and leaders – as well as notable resources from the professional education website, Profedu.ca.    

Reflections from the vice president, medical affairs and innovation 

Dr. Isra Levy leads the medical affairs and innovation (MAI) division within which the I&PM team operates. As Dr. Levy prepares to retire from Canadian Blood Services in early 2026, the 2024–2025 report summarizes the last full-fiscal year under his purview and will be the final report to feature his comments in the opening letter. 

As a champion for the activities and achievements the report describes, we reached out to Dr. Levy for his reflections on the report’s spotlights. 

What top takeaway resonates most strongly with you after reading the report?  

• Dr. Levy: This report is a highlight for me every year. It consolidates vignettes relating to the broad array of activities at Canadian Blood Services which harness curiosity, the scientific method, and business needs to develop and disseminate new knowledge relating to transfusion and transplantation science, and the work we do in supporting patients and providers in Canada.
  
  What resonates most is the breadth of what we do in research and innovation, the excellence of the work, and the impact it has. And of course, our memory of Dana’s leadership and excellence is given expression in the dedication of the report to her remarkable legacy.  

What big achievements detailed in this report are you most proud of as you look back at the past fiscal year?  

• Dr. Levy:  Honestly, it is hard to highlight any particular achievement as standing out over others. I am proud of each and every one of them and humbled by our dedicated and committed team members.
  
  Given my professional background, I am drawn especially to the work of the extended epidemiology group and have greatly enjoyed watching the surveillance and discovery laboratory evolve from its origins stepping up to the challenge of seroprevalence surveillance during the pandemic to its current activities, including those that make us more resilient to the impending epidemiological consequences of climate change.  
  
  At the same time, our groundbreaking work in blood antigen genotyping, ongoing partnerships with the clinical community, work in red cell biology and molecular opportunities, and the myriad of other impactful investigations are an inspiration. And I must mention the pride of knowing that we are one of the main contributors to the next generation of Canadian transfusion and transplantation scientists, through our training programs as well as the informal teaching and mentorship that our team members offer.   

What are the biggest strengths our network possesses to carry us forward in the current research landscape?  

• Dr. Levy: Without question the answer is our people and our partners. It is really nice to read the many descriptions of members of the team in the pages of this report, and even more so to know that each is a member of a deeper and more diverse group of investigators and thought leaders.  

Any final comments you’d like to share as you look forward to 2026?  

• Dr. Levy: It has really been a privilege to work with the I&PM team, the broader teams in medical affairs and innovation, and our extended network of partners and collaborators. Much has been achieved over the decades since our inception. And we are surely at the cusp of renewing the vibrancy and adding to the impact of this legacy. 
  
  We’re embarked on developing a bold and aspirational new plan for innovation, deepening our intellectual and human capital and broadening the horizons to meet the demands of the ever more complex context in which we operate. We also have leadership within the MAI teams and beyond that is committed to the success of the enterprise and the flourishing of our scientists. I am very optimistic for a bright and fulfilling future, and wish you all well as you embrace it.  

We invite you to access the report and share it amongst your networks. Thank you to everyone whose contributions and collaborations have made these successes possible –including donors and research participants – and to all who supported the development of this report.  

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.