For the 2021-2022 competition, we were delighted to once again partner with the Centre for Blood Research at the University of British Columbia and our friends at Science Borealis. This year’s competition challenged trainees to get creative in telling stories that help demystify science to those who may not experience it firsthand. With our theme of “Science behind the scenes”, we were looking for stories that shed light on conducting research or working in a laboratory, or stories about the interesting technologies and tools scientists work with. And new this year, we asked applicants to

Red cell antigen genotyping Red cell antigen genotyping is a type of genetic testing offered through Canadian Blood Services at the National Immunohematology Reference Laboratory (NIRL). Available to healthcare providers across the country, this precise and comprehensive testing provides detailed information about specific antigens that may be present in a patient’s blood. Antigens may cause the immune system to produce antibodies, so understanding a patient’s unique combination of antigens is critical to selecting appropriate transfusion strategies. Patients who may benefit from red cell

New findings from University of Toronto’s QUEST research program analyze the impact of albumin on patient outcomes after cardiac surgery, suggesting routine albumin use in this patient group may need to be re-examined.