By Dr. Edward Conway, Centre for Blood Research Director

These notes were originally included in our November 2020 CBR Magazine. Read the magazine here.

As we navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s interesting to reflect on the “then and now” of the Centre for Blood Research (CBR). In the 1980s and 1990s, Canada suffered what was then referred to as an unprecedented public health disaster, as blood transfusions infected >1,000 individuals with HIV, and ~30,000 patients with hepatitis C. Emerging from this so-called “tainted blood tragedy”, and a commission led by Justice Horace Krever, was most notably a reformed national blood system that restored public confidence in blood safety.

But Justice Krever also underlined the critical value of advancing research and education – not only in transfusion medicine – but in all aspects of health care. And so, in 2002, from the ashes of a disaster, a multi-disciplinary UBC-based research institute, devoted to improving health through research in blood and blood-related processes, was created: the Centre for Blood Research (CBR) was born.

The founders of the CBR recognized that UBC has the skills and resources to build a uniquely innovative, world-class unit, comprising a spectrum of clinical and basic-science investigators, anxious to collaborate to solve urgent biomedically relevant problems, eager to disseminate new knowledge, and to engage all stakeholders, while educating and training future generations of multi-talented investigators. This forward-thinking attitude has not changed, but indeed has grown.

Here we are now, almost 23 years since the Krever report, amidst another “unprecedented” public health disaster caused by yet another virus – arguably more menacing than the others, causing world-wide havoc at many levels. As always, in our roles in academia, CBR members are meeting the challenges head-on. We have rallied, pivoted, adapted, created, innovated and customized, continuing to perform world-class research, sharing new knowledge, and providing fantastically imaginative and stimulating training and educational programs and opportunities. Needless to say, this has not been easy and not without a few hiccups. Indeed, this pandemic has created numerous obstacles. But at the CBR, there is a sense of determination and enthusiasm, where new ideas flourish, and CBR administrators, faculty, staff, trainees and friends, creatively and collectively identify ways and means to move past the barriers.

I am proud to be a member of the CBR. As the director these past several years, it has been my honour and pleasure to participate with you, enjoying your friendliness and your enthusiasm in promoting excellence in research, training and education. I know this will continue.

With sincere thanks,

Ed Conway