This post was written by Canadian Blood Services' postdoctoral fellows, Dr. Syed Qadri from Prof. William Sheffield's laboratory in Hamilton and Dr. Maria Loza from Dr. Sandra Ramirez‘s laboratory in Ottawa. They both crossed the Atlantic for ISBT 2017. In June 2017, more than 2000 transfusion medicine community members, scientists, and health policy makers, from across all continents, converged in the Danish capital Copenhagen to attend the 27th Regional Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion. Every year, this event brings international experts together to address the core

July marks Cord Blood Awareness Month in certain places around the world. In homage to this important campaign we collected a few related stories from the RED archives and share a bit more information about why Cord Blood matters. Cord blood stem cells can be used in the treatment of more than 80 different diseases and disorders. By donating their baby’s cord blood, parents have the power to help patients living with diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia, and sickle cell disease. Researchers continue to explore the possibilities of using cord blood in many other treatments. At

Innovation150 series: As Canada celebrates 150 years we look back on Canadian innovations in transfusion medicine over the years. A series of posts over the next few weeks feature remarkable Canadian progress -- past, present and future. #Innovation150.

Innovation150 series: As Canada celebrates 150 years we look back on Canadian innovations in transfusion medicine over the years. A series of posts over the next few weeks feature remarkable Canadian progress -- past, present and future. #Innovation150.

The International Collaboration for Transfusion Medicine Guidelines (ICTMG) recently convened a panel to provide guidance for fetal neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT). Findings from a systematic review have been recently published in the journal Blood.

Innovation150 series on the RED blog: As Canada celebrates 150 years we look back on Canadian innovations in transfusion medicine over the years. A series of posts over the next few weeks feature remarkable Canadian progress in transfusion medicine past, present and future. #Innovation150.

Previous posts in our "The things we do for safety" series Battling bacteria - part I Leukoreduction In a previous post, we wrote about the donor screening criteria, the arm scrub and the diversion pouch. These are important steps in our blood collection process to limit the introduction of bacteria present on the skin or in the blood of donors into blood products. In this post, we explore other lines of defence in our battle against bacteria. The entire blood product manufacturing process is conducted in a “closed-system”. Through a clever set-up of tubings and bags, the collected blood is

Since 2007, Canadian Blood Services and the Ontario Regional Blood Coordinating Network (ORBCoN) co-chair the planning and execution of an annual transfusion medicine symposium in partnership with a community hospital. The involvement of the community hospital is key in identifying topics of relevance to the transfusion issues faced by their health care professionals. The community hospital also serves as the host site for the symposium, from where the speakers present to the local audience and from where the lectures are web casted to more participants. Blood and Guts: Management of the GI

Canadian Blood Services to fund three highly ranked relevant meritorious applications from the CIHR Project Grant applications submitted Fall 2016.

It's Science Odyssey Week in Canada from May 12 to 21. Enjoy 10 days of discovery and innovation across the country. Find out where activities are taking place near you. In the spirit of Science Odyssey 2017 we worked out a little hands-on experiment to try at home or in class. Ever wonder why your blood is red? Want to get a "feel" for what your blood would look like up close? Try this... Ingredients 1/2 cup corn syrup (PLASMA) 1/2 cup red jelly beans (RED BLOOD CELLS) 1 tbsp. dry white lima beans (WHITE BLOOD CELLS) 10 lentils (PLATELETS) Directions: Mix together in glass jar or bowl. Voila