New research publications: February 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 reoccurring monthly recap – 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 February, we are reporting a total of 14 peer-reviewed research articles indicated by research focus area:

Discovery (6): These studies, spanning lab experiments, animal research, and a broad review of clinical work, show how blood cells and the immune system interact in ways that can affect transfusions, treatments, and future therapies.

Donation policy & studies (1): This pilot laboratory study uses a unique experimental design to assess whether the recommended interval for replacing blood administration sets during transfusion can safely be extended without increased bacterial risk.

Development (2): These publications describe the effects of brief warming events on cold-stored stem cells and compare bacterial growth in red blood cell units stored in different container types.

Adjunct scientists (1): This guideline offers evidence‑based recommendations for rapidly managing life‑threatening bleeding in patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

Other Canadian Blood Services affiliations (4): Together, these studies and commentaries highlight how healthcare teams navigate evidence, immune complexities, and workplace pressures, drawing on scoping reviews and real‑world clinical data.

Where we published

Our research appeared in 9 journals, including Haematologica, Transfusion, and Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia.

Spotlight on select publications

• Bacterial proliferation is comparable in red blood cell concentrates stored in DEHT/PAGGSM and DEHP/SAGM containers. 
  
  “The European Union (EU) has mandated blood storage containers to be di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)-free beyond 2030. Our study is the first published report that filled a knowledge gap by assessing the impact of DEHP-free plasticizers on bacterial survival or proliferation in red blood cell concentrates (RBCC).  
  
  We compared bacterial growth in red blood cell concentrates (RBCC) stored in either DEHT/PAGGSM or DEHP/SAGM and showed that removal of DEHP did not enhance bacterial proliferation. Our data provide evidence to support changes in practice to comply with the upcoming EU ban on phthalates in RBCC storage bags.” 
  
  Dr. Sandra Ramirez-Arcos, Canadian Blood Services, senior scientist 
   
• The emerging promise of induced pluripotent stem cells in clinical studies: a systematic scoping review of the literature and registered clinical trials. 
  
  “Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can become many cell types, making  them a promising treatment for diverse diseases. Early human trials exist but  remain small and inconsistent. For this analysis, we searched major medical  databases and trial registries to identify all published and ongoing iPSC studies. We found 10 published studies and 22 ongoing trials across conditions such as heart disease, eye disorders, cancer, immune complications, and blood disorders. 
  
  Most published studies treated very few patients—only 115 in total—and varied widely in design, disease focus, iPSC production methods, and cell products used. This variability limits clear conclusions about safety and effectiveness. While iPSC therapies hold strong potential, it will likely take several more years to determine their true clinical impact.” 
  
  Dr. David Allan, Canadian Blood Services medical officer 

Our February publications list

This list includes any articles published this month, as well as those that have been e-collected or e-published on PubMed that have not previously appeared in our monthly publications list*. 

• The emerging promise of induced pluripotent stem cells in clinical studies: a systematic scoping review of the literature and registered clinical trials. 
  Thomas L, Rana S, Duong A, Kirkham AM, Shorr R, Maganti H, Seftel M, Allan DS. Cytotherapy. 2026 Jan;28(1):101985. doi: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2025.09.008. PMID: 41160002
• Exploring the immunomodulatory impacts of blood manufacturing consolidation. 
  Kauffman A, Zeller MP, Liu Y, Acker JP, Arnold DM, Heddle N, Hillis C, Li N, Rochwerg B, Lucier K, Syed S, Ning S. Transfusion. 2026 Feb 2. doi: 10.1111/trf.70088. PMID: 41623053
• Alloantibody IgG subclasses have differential activity in clearing transfused platelets in mice. 
  Frost EL, Jash A, Hay AM, Brink R, D'Alessandro A, Dzieciatkowska M, Zimring JC. Blood Adv. 2026 Feb 2:bloodadvances.2025017730. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2025017730. PMID: 41628346
• Guideline on the emergency management of critical bleeding in patients with immune thrombocytopenia. 
  Chowdhury SR, Sirotich E, Guyatt GH, Modi D, Cuker A, Breakey V, Grace RF, Pai M, Beck CE, Yan JW, Porter S, Kang M, Webert KE, O'Connor C, Pruitt B, DiRaimo J, Paynter D, Strachan G, St John M, Molnar L, Arnold DM. Blood Adv. 2026 Feb 4:bloodadvances.2025018818. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2025018818. PMID: 41637560
• IgG4 anti-CD47: Erythrophagocytosis and potential transfusion complications. 
  Boligan KF, Loriamini M, Holton MB, Sandhu G, Binnington B, Velliquette R, Westhoff CM, Branch DR. Transfusion. 2026 Feb 6. doi: 10.1111/trf.70111. PMID: 41652849
• Building evidence for transfusion practice: A pilot study on bacterial adhesion and growth in red blood cell infusion sets.  
  Versey Z, Kou Y, van Vliet P, Ledingham DL, Ramirez-Arcos S. Transfusion. 2026 Feb 11. doi: 10.1111/trf.70104. PMID: 41669795
• Investigating human platelet antigens and antibodies in pregnancy: An 11-year experience from a Canadian reference laboratory. 
  Tordon B, Clarke G, Wong J, Peregrin A, Gupta A. Vox Sang. 2026 Feb 11. doi: 10.1111/vox.70210. PMID: 41672591
• Bacterial proliferation is comparable in red blood cell concentrates stored in DEHT/PAGGSM and DEHP/SAGM containers. 
  Ramirez-Arcos S, Kou Y, Kumaran D, Walsh GM, Howell A, Sumian C, Reichenberg S, Brebant Q, McTaggart K. Vox Sang. 2026 Feb 11. doi: 10.1111/vox.70195. PMID: 41672712
• FVIII-containing platelets modulate immune responses and attenuate inhibitor development in hemophilia A mice. 
  Chen Y, Xue F, Kumar S, Schroeder JA, Jing W, Ni H, Shi Q. Haematologica. 2026 Feb 12. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2025.289331. PMID: 41676910
• When Strong Recommendations Rest on Weak Evidence: Lessons From Therapeutic Apheresis Guidelines. 
  Jacobs JW, Booth GS, Adkins BD, Costa V, Raza S, Park YA, Schwartz JY, Bloch EM. J Clin Apher. 2026 Feb;41(1):e70098. doi: 10.1002/jca.70098. J Clin Apher. 2026. PMID: 41711290
• Neurodevelopmental disorder-causing GRIN1 Y647S variant alters red blood cell physiology in mice. 
  Okafor SC, Horsfall W, Finnie PSB, Holicka C, Wen T, Khatir B, Loriamini M, Salahpour A, Golovin K, Branch DR, Scott GR, Edgar LJ, Kalev-Zylinska ML, Ramsey AJ. Physiol Rep. 2026 Feb;14(4):e70759. doi: 10.14814/phy2.70759. Physiol Rep. 2026. PMID: 41714299
• Coping strategies among acute and critical care nurses: a scoping review. 
  Silva A, Dupuis KL, Lotherington K, Celli J, Kulawic K, Minervini A, Luvizutto J, Dhanani S, Silva E Silva V. Can J Anaesth. 2026 Feb 20. doi: 10.1007/s12630-026-03070-1. Can J Anaesth. 2026. PMID: 41718958
• Very cold but still too warm; functional characterization of transient warming events in stem cell grafts. 
  McGregor C, Saleem AM, Ghannouchi L, Morton L, Li M, Ben RN, Pineault N. Cytotherapy. 2026 Feb;28(2):102008. doi: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2025.102008. Epub 2025 Nov 15. Cytotherapy. 2026. PMID: 41344218
• CD71⁺ Red Blood Cells Mediate Increased Erythrophagocytosis and Reduce Monocyte Number in a Monocyte Suspension Assay. 
  Li W, Acker JP. Scand J Immunol. 2026 Feb;103(2):e70087. doi: 10.1111/sji.70087.PMID: 41580303 

*Items in this list are identified using a process that relies on the PubMed database. While we aim to capture all relevant research articles, 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, or have recently published an article that you think may be possible to include in an upcoming post, we encourage you to contact us at centreforinnovation@blood.ca to inquire. 

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.