New research publications: December 2025

Each month, our R.E.D. blog showcases the activities of our research and education network and the innovation and collaboration that drives our scientific community forward. Included in these activities are the peer-reviewed publications in academic journals that are a main avenue for researchers to share their scientific findings. With a focus on methodology and a rigorous review process prior to publication, these publications are recognized as credible and reliable sources of scientific information.

This blog – part of a reoccurring monthly recap – provides an overview of the latest research publications that have been authored by Canadian Blood Services staff scientists in discovery, development and donation policy & studies; adjunct scientists; medical experts and trainees; and/or resulting from supported projects or partnerships.

Visit blood.ca to learn more about Our Research Team and to search our full publication database (updated annually).

By the numbers

For the month of December, we are reporting a total of 15 peer-reviewed research articles indicated by research focus area:

Discovery (1):This research examines key factors that shape immune responses to transfused red blood cells.  

Donation policy & studies (2): These publications describe the impact of sexual behaviour-based screening on blood donors’ motivations to return and identify potential biomarkers of bacterial contamination to inform platelet storage practices.

Development (1): This observational study examines the rising demand and supply challenges for HLA/HPA-matched platelets in Canada.

Adjunct scientists (2): These publications include a retrospective study on the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IViG) and an audit of platelet transfusion practice. Both studies received support through Canadian Blood Services’ competitive funding programs, including the Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program (BEAP) and Kenneth J. Fyke Award Program (respectively).

Other Canadian Blood Services affiliations (9): This collection of research explores advances in blood transfusion from understanding blood group systems and donor health, to improving safety, access and treatment strategies for complex conditions. It also includes a study protocol for an Ontario-based randomized controlled trial focusing on utilization of whole blood in prehospital transfusion settings.

Where we published

Our research appeared in 12 journals, including British Journal of Haematology, Current Opinion in Immunology and BMJ Open. 

Spotlight on select publications

• Experience of blood donation and return for subsequent donation among new and repeat donors. 
  
  This paper reports results from the third phase of a multi-year, mixed methods study aimed at informing the removal of the men-who-have-sex-with-men deferral criteria and addition of sexual behaviour-based screening (SBBS) questions in the donor questionnaire (DQ). For this third phase we assessed new and return donors’ (1) self-reported responses to the DQ with the SBBS questions, and (2) self-reported attitudes, social norms, perceived behavioural control, intentions to donate, experiences during a current donation, and subsequent donation behaviour over the next 6 months.
  
  Two strengths of our study include in-centre study recruitment to enable assessment of donors’ response to the DQ immediately upon completion and examining the relationship between self-reported factors that can influence behaviour and actual return behaviour.
  
  Dr. Jennie Haw, Canadian Blood Services scientist
  
  Note: This publication results from research that received funding support from the Canadian Blood Services MSM Plasma Program. 

Our December publications list

This list includes any articles published this month, as well as those that have been e-collected or e-published on PubMed that have not previously appeared in our monthly publications list*. 

• Demand for human leukocyte antigen or human platelet antigen-selected platelets: An observational study at Canadian Blood Services.  
  Rickards N, Hoang PD, Mack J, Seftel M, Blake JT, Gupta A. Transfusion. 2025 Dec 1. doi: 10.1111/trf.70025. PMID: 41324301 

• International Society of Blood Transfusion Working Party on Red Cell Immunogenetics and Blood Group Terminology Report of Gothenburg, Barcelona and four virtual business meetings: Update on blood group systems. 
  Hyland CA, Castilho L, Chen Q, Clausen FB, Denomme GA, Fichou Y, Flegel WA, Floch A, Gleadall NS, Hellberg Å, Ji Y, Karamatic Crew V, Keller MA, Lane WJ, Ligthart PC, Lomas-Francis C, Lopez GH, Montemayor C, Nogués N, Ochoa G, Olsson ML, Peyrard T, Srivastava K, Storry JR, Tani Y, Thornton N, van der Schoot E, Vege S, Veldhuisen B, Wagner FF, Weinstock C, Wendel S, Westhoff CM, Yahalom V, Gassner C. Vox Sang. 2025 Dec 1. doi: 10.1111/vox.70148. PMID: 41326325 

• The untransfusable patient. 
  Webert KE, Zeller MP. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2025 Dec 5;2025(1):191-198. doi: 10.1182/hematology.2025000705. PMID: 41347989 

• Obstetrical use of intravenous immunoglobulin: A single-centre retrospective study. 
  Khalife R, Niu B, Perelman I, El-Chaâr D, Fergusson D, Karovitch A, Mack J, Tokessy M, Webert KE, Tinmouth A. Hematol Transfus Cell Ther. 2025 Dec 6;48(1):106225. doi: 10.1016/j.htct.2025.106225.PMID: 41353902 

• Experience of blood donation and return for subsequent donation among new and repeat donors.  
  Fisher W, Kohut T, Haw J. Transfusion. 2025 Dec 8. doi: 10.1111/trf.70019. PMID: 41359871 

• Knowledge Related to Blood Donation and Iron, and Willingness to Take Iron Supplements Among Blood Donors in Multiple Countries. 
  Krommendijk F, Meulenbeld A, Karregat J, Spencer BR, Toss F, Namba N, Tsuno N, Greffin K, Aurich K, Merz EM, Goldman M, Ferguson E, Hoekstra T, Arvas M, van den Hurk K; BEST Collaborative. Transfus Med Rev. 2025 Dec 8;40(1):150950. doi: 10.1016/j.tmrv.2025.150950. PMID: 41483653 

• Staphylococcal Enterotoxins Modulate Platelet Response During Storage of Platelet Concentrates and Impair Silkworm Survival.  
  Chi SI, McGregor C, Pineault N, Ramirez-Arcos S. Toxins (Basel). 2025 Dec 11;17(12):593. doi: 10.3390/toxins17120593. PMID: 41441628 

• Whole blood transfusion in the management of obstetric hemorrhage: A scoping review. 
  Lalonde J, Dion PM, Carpentier A, Chauret M, Eissa MS, Walker M, Shorr R, Mack J. Transfusion. 2025 Dec 14. doi: 10.1111/trf.70013. PMID: 41391015 

• A congress report of the new Emerging Pathogens and Parasitology Subgroup within the ISBT Working Party on Transfusion-Transmitted Infectious Diseases. 
  Drews SJ, Wendel S, Custer B, Busch MP, Ramirez-Arcos S, McDonald C, Candotti D, Faddy HM, Rader B, Jacobs JW, Lieshout-Krikke R, Spencer BR, Renaud C, Lewin A, O'Brien SF, Bloch EM; ISBT Transfusion‐Transmitted Infectious Diseases Working Party. Emerging Pathogens and Parasitology Subgroup. Vox Sang. 2025 Dec 15. doi: 10.1111/vox.70162. PMID: 41397835 

• The role of linked recognition and B cell precursor frequency in alloimmunization to transfused RBCs. 
  Frost EL, Jash A, D'Alessandro A, Hudson KE, Zimring JC. Curr Opin Immunol. 2025 Dec 16;98:102705. doi: 10.1016/j.coi.2025.102705. PMID: 41406558 

• Bioinformatic applications in blood group molecular typing.  
  Luchessi AD, Sierocinski T, Jayaprakash TP, Montemayor Garcia C. Transfus Apher Sci. 2025 Dec 23;65(1):104300. doi: 10.1016/j.transci.2025.104300. PMID: 41475041 

• Opportunities for improving platelet transfusion practice: A large retrospective audit across 22 hospitals. 
  Ryan S, Liu Y, Raza S, Loeffler A, Relke N, Gabarin N, Risk M, Nguyen PU, Li N, Verma A, Razak F, Karkouti K, Dyba J, Arnold D, Callum J. Br J Haematol. 2025 Dec 25. doi: 10.1111/bjh.70304. PMID: 41449709 

• Improving transfusion access through improved policy: a call for a less fragmented blood supply. 
  Jacobs JW, Raza S, Maynard S, Shaz BH, Tobian AAR, Bloch EM. Expert Rev Hematol. 2025 Dec 30:1-11. doi: 10.1080/17474086.2025.2610282. PMID: 41441855 

• Study protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial assessing prehospital whole blood versus component therapy in traumatic haemorrhage: SWiFT Canada (study of whole blood in frontline trauma). 
  Lin Y, Peddle M, Callum J, Beckett A, da Luz LT, Drennan I, Pavenski K, Mack J, McGowan M, Ahghari M, Smith J, Green L, Keown-Stoneman CDG, Nolan B; SWiFT Canada Investigators. BMJ Open. 2025 Dec 31;15(12):e108570. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-108570.PMID: 41475814 

• Factor XIII Supplementation in Postpartum Hemorrhage: From Biological Rationale to Clinical Implementation. 
  Jacobs JW, Abels EA, Adkins BD, Booth GS, Costa V, Raza S, Simon M, Woo JS, Wheeler AP. Am J Hematol. 2025 Dec 31. doi: 10.1002/ajh.70181. PMID: 41472522 

*Items in this list are identified using a process that relies on the PubMed database. While we aim to capture all relevant research articles, limitations in database indexing and search parameters may occasionally cause articles to be missed. If you are the author of an article that you believe has been missed from this monthly list, we encourage you to contact us at centreforinnovation@blood.ca to inquire. 

We are proud of the remarkable work being done across Canadian Blood Services’ network. Stay tuned for more blog posts as we continue to advance scientific discovery and innovation for the Canadian blood system.

Canadian Blood Services – Driving world-class innovation

Through discovery, development and applied research, Canadian Blood Services drives world-class innovation in blood transfusion, cellular therapy and transplantation—bringing clarity and insight to an increasingly complex healthcare future. Our dedicated research team and extended network of partners engage in exploratory and applied research to create new knowledge, inform and enhance best practices, contribute to the development of new services and technologies, and build capacity through training and collaboration. Find out more about our research impact. 

The opinions reflected in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Canadian Blood Services nor do they reflect the views of Health Canada or any other funding agency.