Our Funded Research Projects

Updated April 2024

Title Principal Investigator / Supervisor Program Project Start Date Sort descending Project End Date Total $ Awarded
Modulation of biofilm formation, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance by Staphylococcus aureus during platelet storage Principal Investigator: RAMIREZ-ARCOS, Sandra

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: SAD, Subash, MAH, Thien-Fah
Intramural Research Grant Program 323252.6
Measurement of heavy metals in donor blood in Canada Principal Investigator: DEVINE, Dana

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: SERRANO, Katherine, LEVIN, Elena, MURPHY, Michael, BARAKAUSKAS, Vilte, HADJESFAMDOARI, Narges, ARRIETA, Angele, RICHARDSON-SANCHEZ, Tomas
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program 29971.0
Reducing IVIG usage by developing novel prophylaxis therapies against FNAIT Principal Investigator: NI, Heyu

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: PASMAN, Yfke
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program 165000.0
Development of a drug to replace IVIg, and ADCC as cause for unexplained hemolysis post-transfusion Principal Investigator: BRANCH, Donald

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: ALMIZRAQ, Ruqayyah
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program 165000.0
Demonstration of genetic blood group transition in patients undergoing ABO-mismatched hematopoietic stem cell transplantation by peripheral blood quantitative polymerase chain reaction targeting the ABO locus Principal Investigator: SHIH, Andrew

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: LAZO-LANGER, Alejandro, D'SOUZA, David, CALLUM, Jeannie, LEUNG, Eric, CHIN-YEE, Ian
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program 15990.0
Evaluating unintentional warming of glycerolized red cell concentrates Principal Investigator: ACKER, Jason

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CLARKE, Gwen, TURNER, Tracy, OLAFSON, Carly, MYKHAILOVA, Olga
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program 25000.0
A machine learning based framework to analyze blood product transactional data for reducing discards Principal Investigator: CHENG, Calvino

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: ABIDI, Syed Sibte Raza, BLAKE, John, LIWSKI, Robert, QUINN, Jason, ABUSHAREKH, Ashraf, ABIDI, Samina, XIANG, Richard
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program 29950.0
Replacement of IVIg by small molecule inhibitors of phagocytosis Principal Investigator: BRANCH, Donald

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: LORIAMINI, Melika
Graduate Fellowship Program 112333.0
Blood and stem cell donation for men who have sex with men in Canada: A toolkit for healthcare professionals Principal Investigator: FINGRUT, Warren

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: GOLDMAN, Mindy, SHIH, Andrew, ELMOAZZEN, Heidi, ALLAN, David, PETRASZKO, Tanya, YAN, Matthew, COUPAL, Dylan, SEGALL, Romy, CHOWDHURY, Fuad, CAI, Helen, KUMAR, Shamini Vijaya, TRAADE, Daniel, ROSENFELD, Aaron, KAVEH, Farrokhi
BloodTechNet Award Program 20000.0
Synthesis and live cell imaging of ice recrystallization inhibitors in red blood cells Principal Investigator: BEN, Robert

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: MCMUNN, Leah
Graduate Fellowship Program 112333.0
The Calgary Plasma Study: feasibility of implementing source plasma donation with alternative screening eligibility criteria for men who have sex with men Principal Investigator: PRESSEAU, Justin

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: GOLDMAN, Mindy, O'BRIEN, Sheila, MACPHERSON, Paul, OTIS, Joanne, FOSTER, Terrie, VESNAVER, Elisabeth, GERMAIN, Marc, ROSSER, Andrew, LAPIERRE, Don, HILL, Nolan
MSM Plasma Program 399875.0
Awareness and understanding of apheresis plasma donation and effectiveness of alternative donor screening questions for diverse gbMSM and trans populations Principal Investigator: GAHAGAN, Jacqueline

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: HAW, Jennie, LACHOWSKY, Nathan, DRYDEN, OmiSoore, MANNING, Eli, FOSTER, Terrie, O'BRIEN, Sheila, HACHETTE, Todd, MULLOWNEY, Mike
MSM Plasma Program 200500.0
Support of HLA laboratory directors in-training for rotations in specialized laboratories Principal Investigator: WAGNER, Eric

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: KEOWN, Paul, LIWSKI, Robert, CAMPBELL, Patricia, BERKA, Noureddine, WANG, Jinguo, MOSTAFA, Ahmed, CHEE-LOONG, Saw, RICHARD, Lucie, CHARGÉ, Sophie, DHARSEE, Fatima
BloodTechNet Award Program 8490.0
Assessing the acceptability and feasibility of a plasma donation program for gbMSM in Montréal from the point of view of cis and trans gbMSM, volunteers from Héma-Québec, current donors, and plasma product recipients Principal Investigator: OTIS, Joanne

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: GERMAIN, Marc, HAW, Jennie, MONTEITH, Kenneth, MYHAL, Geneviève, PRESSEAU, Justin, PIRNAT, Bojan, LAPIERRE, Don
MSM Plasma Program 390970.0
Assessing acceptability, understanding and effectiveness of alternative screening questions for current donors Principal Investigator: FISHER, William

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: HAW, Jennie, GOLDMAN, Mindy, FOSTER, Terrie, O'BRIEN, Sheila, HOFKIRCHNER, Alexander
MSM Plasma Program 129400.0
New cryosolution for stem cell-based therapeutics Principal Investigator: PINEAULT, Nicolas

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: BEN, Robert, HARPER, Marie-Ellen, CHAKRABORTY, Nilay
Intramural Research Grant Program 180000.0
Identification of mechanisms leading to antibody independent RBC hemolysis Principal Investigator: BRANCH, Donald

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: FRIAS BOLIGAN, Kayluz
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program 150000.0
Enabling next generation hematopoietic-based therapeutics and manufacturing Principal Investigator: PINEAULT, Nicolas

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: MCCOMB, Scott, JEZIERSKI, Anna, MAGALHAES, Ana, IQBAL, Umer
Intramural Research Grant Program 300000.0
Translating novel clotting factor X function to treat thrombosis Principal Investigator: PRYZDIAL, Ed

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: MACVICAR, Brian, SHEFFIELD, William
Intramural Research Grant Program 369052.0
New platform for targeted gene editing of hematopoietic stem cells for cellular
therapy
Principal Investigator: PINEAULT, Nicolas

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: MAGANTI, Harinad
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program 120000.0
A Framework for Accelerated Synthesis of Trial Evidence – FAST Evidence - to assess efficacy of mesenchymal stromal cells and convalescent plasma for COVID-19 Principal Investigator: ALLAN, David

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: TINMOUTH, Alan, FERGUSSON, Dean, LALU, Manoj
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program 25000.0
Assessing the impact of donor manufacturing characteristics on survival of transfused red blood cells Principal Investigator: TINMOUTH, Alan

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: ACKER, Jason, FERGUSSON, Dean, CHASSÉ, Michaël
Intramural Research Grant Program 90935.0
Development of porcine equivalent RCC and plasma units for translatable ex vivo organ perfusion research Principal Investigator: ACKER, Jason

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: FREED, Darren
Intramural Research Grant Program 121834.0
Revisiting the universal donor: Does exposure to O blood products affect patient outcomes? Principal Investigator: ARNOLD, Donald

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: ACKER, Jason, BUCKSTEIN, Rena, CALLUM, Jeannie, COOK, Richard, HEDDLE, Nancy, SOLH, Ziad, WEBERT, Kathryn, BARTY, Rebecca, LEBER, Brian, LALIT, Saini
Intramural Research Grant Program 378365.0
PREMISE: Point-of-care hemoglobin accuracy and transfusion outcomes in non-cardiac surgery Principal Investigator: MARTEL, Guillaume

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: TINMOUTH, Alan, FERGUSSON, Dean, MCISAAC, Daniel, SHAW, Julie, RAMSAY, Tim, PRESSEAU, Justin, WHERRETT, Christopher, CARRIER, François-Martin, SEELY, Andrew, BRYSON, Gregory
Intramural Research Grant Program 392974.0
Informing the distribution of COVID-19 convalescent plasma through implementation of CONCOR-1 in British Columbia Principal Investigator: SHIH, Andrew

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: VASARHELYI, Krisztina, MANUSHA, Stephania Anna, STEINER, Ted, MCMASTER, Robert, DALY, Patricia, LI, Na, DOWN, Douglas, HEDDLE, Nancy, PETRASZKO, Tanya, LIOW, Eric, PAVLOVICH, Sasha, RUTHERFORD, Alexander
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program 30000.0
Anti-RBC monoclonal antibodies as a replacement for IVIg and anti-D in ITP Principal Investigator: LAZARUS, Alan

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: BRANCH, Donald, DUNN, Shannon
Intramural Research Grant Program 400000.0
An interactive virtual tour of blood product manufacturing at Canadian Blood Services Principal Investigator: BODNAR, Melanie

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CHARGÉ, Sophie, YAN, Mathew, ABE, Tricia, TORDON, Bryan, CLARKE, Gwen
BloodTechNet Award Program 20000.0
Transfusion CONsent by a Standardized Evidence-based Novel Tool (Transfusion- CONSENT): Creating and validating novel tools to assess competence in obtaining transfusion consent Principal Investigator: LAUREANO, Marissa

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: KHANDELWAL, Aditi, HASPEL, Richard, FUNG, Mark, LANE, Shannon, ZELLER, Michelle
BloodTechNet Award Program 8524.0
Transcriptome analyses of Staphylococcus aureus grown in platelet concentrates with focus on virulence Principal Investigator: RAMIREZ-ARCOS, Sandra

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: DA SILVA PAREDES, Carina
Graduate Fellowship Program 122000.0
Pediatric Transfusion Camp Principal Investigator: LIEBERMAN, Lani

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: LIN, Yulia, CALLUM, Jeannie, WALSH, Catherine, CHARGÉ, Sophie, WILLIAMS, Suzanne, FARONI, David, MEMA, Briseida, LACROIX, Jacque, LAU, Wendy, ROBITAILLE, Nancy, FINAN, Emer, HUME, Heather, HASPEL, Richard, ATKINSON, Adelle, SCOLNIK, Dennis
BloodTechNet Award Program 10500.0
Elianna Saidenberg Transfusion Medicine Trainee Principal Investigator: SHIH, Andrew

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: TAPLEY, Laura
Elianna Saidenberg Transfusion Medicine Traineeship Award 105000.0
Elianna Saidenberg Transfusion Medicine Trainee Principal Investigator: LAU, Wendy

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: TORDON, Bryan
Elianna Saidenberg Transfusion Medicine Traineeship Award 210000.0
Perioperative transfusion threshold : A population-based observational study Principal Investigator: FERGUSSON, Dean

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: VERRET, Michael
Graduate Fellowship Program 52000.0
Donor factors and product quality Principal Investigator: ACKER, Jason

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: YAZDANBAKHSH, Mahsa
Graduate Fellowship Program 122000.0
Mechanisms of anti-αIIb mediated miscarriage in fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia Principal Investigator: NI, Heyu

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CHEN, Zi Yan
Graduate Fellowship Program 52000.0
IVIG utilization and its impact on platelet count in pregnant women with moderate thrombocytopenia Principal Investigator: KHALIFE, Roy

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: TINMOUTH, Alan, EL-CHAAR, Darine, MACK, Jonathan, KAROVITCH, Alan, FERGUSSON, Dean, WEBERT, Kathryn
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program 22217.3
Mechanisms of erythrocyte antibody-mediated immune suppression Principal Investigator: LAZARUS, Alan

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: NI, Heyu, SEMPLE, John
Intramural Research Grant Program 400000.0
Identifying biomarkers for Staphylococcus aureus contamination of platelet component Principal Investigator: RAMIREZ-ARCOS, Sandra

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CHI, Sylvia Ighem
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program 150000.0
RBC hemolysis and cellular effector mechanisms (RHANCEM) Principal Investigator: BRANCH, Donald

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CSERTI-GAZDEWICH, Christine, PENDERGRAST,Jacob, CALLUM, Jeannie, YI, Qilong
Intramural Research Grant Program 399927.3
Optimizing Pre-Chemotherapy Anemia in Gynecologic Oncology (OPRA-2): A quality improvement initiative Principal Investigator: VICUS, Danielle

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: SPÉNARD, Elisabeth, LIN, Yulia, KHANDELWAL, Aditi, TANO, Ruby, JADUNANDAN, Saudia, KNIGHT, Dawn
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program 30000.0
Elianna Saidenberg Transfusion Medicine Trainee Principal Investigator: LAU, Wendy

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: VANDERMEULEN, Heather
Elianna Saidenberg Transfusion Medicine Traineeship Award 210000.0
The pan-Canadian immunoglobulin database: Enabling utilization reporting and personalized treatment using data mining techniques for immunoglobulin Principal Investigator: LI, Na

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: DOWN, Douglas, CHIANG, Fei, LEE, Joon, HEDDLE, Nancy, ARNOLD, Donald, CALLUM, Jeannie, SIDHU, Davinder, BARTY, Rebecca
Kenneth J. Fyke Award Program 100000.0
Improving blood product quality Principal Investigator: DEVINE, Dana

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: MA, Hongshen, JOHNSON, James, D'ALESSANDRO, Angelo
Intramural Research Grant Program 304462.0
Addressing racial disparity in blood, stem cell, and organ and tissue donor pools Principal Investigator: FINGRUT, Warren

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: OKONOFUA, Sylvia, YAN, Matthew, KHANDELWAL, Aditi, PENDERGRAST, Jacob, LEEIES, Murdoch, TINGA, Biba, HAW, Jennie, JAGELAVICIUTE, Gabriela, ROSENFELD, Aaron, KHANOLKAR, Rutvij, SEGALL, Romy, BELLINI, Jonathan, MORAKINYO, Tobi, AGYEPONG, Revée
BloodTechNet Award Program 34150.0
Assessing the relationship between red blood cell deformability and transfusion lifetime Principal Investigator: MA, Hongshen

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: LAMOUREUX, Erik
Graduate Fellowship Program 52000.0
Defining the stem cell regulatory functions of GAS6 and FTO Principal Investigator: MAGANTI, Harinad

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: PASALA, Ajay
Graduate Fellowship Program 52000.0
Options for increasing plasma supply in Canada: A health economic preference and modelling study Principal Investigator: HOLLOWAY, Kelly

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: KENNEDY, Kevin
CIHR Health System Impact Fellowship 108500.0
Modified platelet storage containers to improve quality during storage Principal Investigator: KIZHAKKEDATHU, Jayachandran

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: PEREYRA DOS SANTOS, Nicolas
Graduate Fellowship Program 52000.0
Leveraging equity-focused implementation science to evaluate and support the re-integration of men who have sex with men into the blood donation system Principal Investigator: GOLDMAN, Mindy

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: VESNAVER, Elisabeth
CIHR Health System Impact Fellowship 108500.0