April 22-28 marks National Organ and Tissue Donation Week in Canada — a week dedicated to raising awareness about the critical needs of patients across the country.

Recipients of the Canadian Blood Services Lifetime Achievement Award are individuals whose landmark contributions are recognized as both extraordinary and world class in the field of transfusion or transplantation medicine, stem cell or cord blood research in Canada and/or abroad.

In 2017, we published numerous research stories, here are a few of our favourites. Natural killers: when cells go wrong — New research reveals insights into causes of FNAIT A new study by Centre for Innovation scientist Dr. Heyu Ni and his research team at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto reveals insights into causes of miscarriage for some women... Calculating impacts of change Our in-house engineer, John Blake, did some nifty number crunching and estimated that an eligibility change would mean about 35,000 fewer donations collected in a year — hence a push for new donors to step forward to

It's hard to believe that 2017 is almost over. As we prepare for 2018, we take a look back on our most-read research, education and discovery stories from the past year. #5 Encouraging meaningful careers in STEM – Part 1 To encourage more young people to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and math, and in honour of Ada Lovelace Day 2017, we were pleased to share profiles of women in these essential fields... #4 Kidney Paired Donation – powerful program reaches significant milestone More than 500 kidney transplants have occurred across Canada through the Kidney Paired Donation

Canadian partners bring experts together for two-day Deceased Donation Symposium as part of CCCF

New data released this week by Canadian Blood Services and the Canadian Institute for Health Information sheds light on organ donation and transplantation system progress Close to 3000 lifesaving transplants were performed in Canada in 2016 of which 758 donations came from deceased donors, and 545 from living donors, according to the latest numbers released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) and Canadian Blood Services. The reports released this week by Canadian Blood Services build on last year’s 2006-2015 System Progress Report and provide the latest Canadian statistics

If you’re already a subscriber to our Research and Education Round Up, thank you! You’re one of almost 700 readers interested in the latest transfusion and transplantation news, publications and events from Canadian Blood Services’ Medical Services and Innovation research and education network. If you already know the value of the Round Up, please tell your colleagues. They just might thank you. Published since 2015, our monthly newsletter collects the latest news, events and opportunities of interest to our transfusion and transplantation community. Professional development and education

Centre for Innovation funding programs like the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program enable experts in the fields of transfusion and transplantation medicine to deepen their understanding of the blood system while making vital steps towards a safer, more effective and responsive system for Canada. This program provides postdoctoral fellows with salary support to conduct their research and a supplementary research allowance which can be used towards purchasing materials, supplies, and other services needed to ensure a successful project.

Health systems impact fellow Dr. Jennie Haw digs into social aspects of cord blood banking

To encourage more young people to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and math, and in honour of Ada Lovelace Day 2017, we are pleased to share profiles of women in these essential fields at Canadian Blood Services. We chose these stories in particular because they share a common theme of both perseverance and flexibility. They represent just a sampling of the convergence of skills, abilities and professional backgrounds that support Canada’s national blood system, its related activities, and the patients it serves. Part One shares words of wisdom from the field of Science and