Driving excellence: CBR and Canadian Blood Services renew collaboration to advance blood science education and training

July 30, 2024

This blog was originally prepared by CBR Communications & Programs Coordinator, Kaitlyn Chuong, and former Canadian Blood Services Knowledge Broker, Dr. Travis Sztainert, with edits provided by Abby Wolfe.

After more than 20 years, the Centre for Blood Research (CBR) and Canadian Blood Services are proud to share that they have renewed their collaboration agreement which supports education, training and knowledge mobilization for the next generation of trainees and researchers in blood science and transfusion at CBR.

Trainee poster presentations at the Earl W. Davie Symposium 2023.

Trainee poster presentations at the Earl W. Davie Symposium 2023.

The collaboration agreement which is administered by Innovation and Portfolio Management at Canadian Blood Services has recently been extended for three more years to 2027. This agreement formalizes the next iteration of this long-standing partnership and is the result of continued commitment from both organizations to improve blood research.

This partnership emerged in response to recommendations made following Canada’s public inquiry into the contaminated blood crisis of the 1980s and 1990s. Thus, to address a recognized gap in transfusion science knowledge, in 2002, a group of visionary blood researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) established Canada’s first interdisciplinary blood research centre — an entirely unique and valuable resource for established and emerging blood scientists. With its creation, the CBR brought together a wide range of multi-talented investigators to develop highly specialized labs to study blood and transfusion science. Since its inception, the CBR has grown to include more than 35 basic science, applied science, social science and clinical investigators in 12 departments, representing 6 faculties at UBC, with a focus on advancing knowledge of transfusion science and medicine in the lab and in the clinic.

“We are delighted to extend our partnership with the Centre for Blood Research through 2027. This renewal highlights our shared commitment to advancing education, training, and research in transfusion science. Together, we aim to drive innovation and improve transfusion practices, ensuring a safer and more effective future for the Canadian blood system.”
Dr. Chantale Pambrun, Senior Medical Director, Innovation & Portfolio Management, CBS

The partnership of Canadian Blood Services was integral to creating the Centre for Blood Research, providing essential start-up funding and continuing to support infrastructure for the centre and its training and education programs. Several Canadian Blood Services scientists are active members within the Centre for Blood Research including senior scientist Dr. Ed Pryzdial and adjunct scientists Dr. Ed Conway, Dr. Hongshen Ma and Dr. Jay Kizhakkedathu.

“The long-term relationship of Canadian Blood Services and the CBR has been nothing less than fantastic! By combining resources and sharing knowledge, education and research outputs, this unique partnership has resulted in more rapid and meaningful advances that are recognized locally, nationally and internationally. The entire transfusion medicine community has benefitted and will continue to do so.”
Dr. Ed Conway, Director, CBR
Speakers at the Norman Bethune Symposium 2024.

Speakers at the Norman Bethune Symposium 2024.

Learn more about some of the research these scientists and members of their labs undertake in our previous R.E.D. blogs and videos:

The CBR is grateful for Canadian Blood Services’ continuous support, without which its many educational, training and research programs would not be possible. This includes, for example, CBR’s Graduate Award Program and Summer Studentship Program, as well as the CBR’s weekly seminar series and the annual Earl W. Davie and Norman Bethune symposia.