Catherine Lewis

Research articles

Top 5 blog posts of 2021


Friday, December 31, 2021
As we begin a new year, look back with us at the top five blogs of 2021. Unsurprisingly, pandemic-related information gained the most attention.

Chief scientist Dr. Dana Devine takes on directorship at Centre for Blood Research


Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Dr. Devine will bring roles together to bridge discoveries into better care

Top 5 blog posts of 2020


Thursday, December 31, 2020
What a year 2020 has been! Take a look back with us by checking out the five most visited R.E.D. blog posts in 2020.

Tracking the prevalence of COVID-19 at top speed


Tuesday, October 20, 2020
How Canadian Blood Services quickly stood up a seroprevalence lab able to test thousands of donor blood samples for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies each day

“Only we can help”: breaking down barriers for a child with a rare condition


Thursday, March 19, 2020
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t have done, knowing full well it was something only we could do. At the end of the day, Canadian Blood Services got this done. A child has been treated because we were adamant we were going to provide a solution."

Why you won’t get COVID-19 from a blood transfusion


Tuesday, March 10, 2020
“There is absolutely no evidence of transfusion transmission for COVID-19, or any other coronavirus,” says Dr. Steven Drews, associate director of microbiology at Canadian Blood Services.

Top 5 blog posts of 2019


Tuesday, January 07, 2020
Welcome to 2020! Take a look back with us by checking out the five most visited R.E.D. blog posts in 2019.

The science behind young blood


Thursday, October 31, 2019
Drinking the blood of the young, and thereby somehow capturing their youth, is a common literary trope. The ghoulish notion speaks to our cultural fascination with youth, but also to our dread of aging. There’s no evidence-based therapy using the blood of young people to counteract or prevent the effects of aging, but young blood is an area where science might be beginning to imitate art — at least, sort of. “When we talk about young blood, we’re really talking about two streams of work,” says Dr. Jason Acker, a senior scientist at Canadian Blood Services’ Centre for Innovation and professor

Dr. Donald Branch honoured by AABB for his career achievements


Thursday, November 07, 2019
Last month, Dr. Donald Branch, a scientist at Canadian Blood Services’ Centre for Innovation and professor at the University of Toronto, received a prestigious international award honouring his more than 40 years of major contributions to transfusion medicine and hematology.

Dr. Donna Wall wins lifetime achievement award


Friday, September 27, 2019
With a medical career spanning almost 40 years, Dr. Donna Wall has made significant contributions to the evolution of blood and marrow transplantation across North America. After completing paediatric and paediatric hematology/oncology training in the U.S., Dr. Wall went on to establish blood and marrow transplantation and public cord blood programs in cities including St. Louis and San Antonio. Among her many other collaborations, Dr. Wall has contributed to the transplant community upon her return to Canada. She helped launch Canadian Blood Services’ Cord Blood Bank and served on the