Our Funded Research Projects

Updated September 2023

Title Sort descending Principal Investigator / Supervisor Program Project Start Date Project End Date Total $ Awarded
Defining the components of transfusable plasma that reduce bleeding Principal Investigator: SHEFFIELD, William

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: PRYZDIAL, Edward, NI, Heyu
Intramural Research Grant Program $218,230.00
Defining the stem cell regulatory functions of GAS6 and FTO Principal Investigator: MAGANTI, Harinad

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: PASALA, Ajay
Graduate Fellowship Program $52,000.00
Deformability based cell sorting enabling quality control of stored red blood cells Principal Investigator: MA, Hongshen

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: ISLAMZADA, Emel
Graduate Fellowship Program $112,333.00
Demonstration of genetic blood group transition in patients undergoing ABO-mismatched allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation by peripheral blood quantitative polymerase chain reaction targeting the ABO locus – Full Study Principal Investigator: SHIH, Andrew

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: WANG, Xiu Qing, MCGINNIS, Eric, STUBBINS, Ryan, HUDOBA, Monika, PETRASZKO, Tanya
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $30,000.00
Demonstration of genetic blood group transition in patients undergoing ABO-mismatched hematopoietic stem cell transplantation by peripheral blood quantitative polymerase chain reaction targeting the ABO locus Principal Investigator: SHIH, Andrew

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: LAZO-LANGER, Alejandro, D'SOUZA, David, CALLUM, Jeannie, LEUNG, Eric, CHIN-YEE, Ian
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $15,990.00
Dengue virus replication by anucleate cells: impact on pathogen reduction efficacy Principal Investigator: PRYZDIAL, Ed

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: FELGENHAUER, Ulrike
Graduate Fellowship Program $52,000.00
Design and implementation of circulatory oxygen therapeutics derived from human hemoglobin by improved systematic chemical coupling and cross-linking Principal Investigator: KLUGER, Ronald

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee:
Canadian Blood Services-CIHR Partnership Operating Grant Program $192,039.00
Determining potential policy solutions for normothermic regional perfusion in organ donation in Canada through analysis and resolution of two key ethical challenges Principal Investigator: WEIJER, Charles

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: BADENOCH, Heather, BASMAJI, John, BRAHMANIA, Mayur, CHANDLER, Jennifer, HEALEY, Andrew, LINGARD, Lorelei, MURPHY, Nicholas, OTT, Mary, SHEMIE, Sam, SKARO, Anton, SLESSAREV, Marat
James Kreppner Award Program $50,000.00
Developing a Canadian policy on the responsible use of umbilical cord blood for proven indications in regenerative therapy Principal Investigator: ALLAN, David

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: HUTTON, Brian, CAULFIELD, Timothy
Kenneth J. Fyke Award Program $100,000.00
Developing educational tools and resources to improve living donor care Principal Investigator: SANDAL, Shaifali

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: NUGUS, Peter, FORTIN, Marie-Chantal, LOBAN, Katya, BUGEJA, Ann, MAINRA, Rahul, DIPCHAND, Christine, BADENOCH, Heather
BloodTechNet Award Program $50,000.00
Development of a drug to replace IVIg, and ADCC as cause for unexplained hemolysis post-transfusion Principal Investigator: BRANCH, Donald

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: ALMIZRAQ, Ruqayyah
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program $165,000.00
Development of a small molecule cocktail for the expansion of cord blood stem cells Principal Investigator: PINEAULT, Nicolas

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: BLAKE, John, AUDET, Julie
Intramural Research Grant Program $237,600.00
Development of a small molecule-based stem and progenitor expansion protocol to accelerate engraftment after cord blood transplantation Principal Investigator: PINEAULT, Nicolas

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: MANESIA, Javed
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program $101,200.00
Development of internet modules for serology curriculum delivery Principal Investigator: YAN, Matthew

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: PENDERGRAST, Jacob, TAIT, Gordon
BloodTechNet Award Program $35,500.00
Development of novel blood vessel and organ sealants for blood conservation in surgical practice Principal Investigator: BROOKS, Don

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: DU, Caigan , HSIANG, York N. , KIZHAKKEDATHU, Jayachandran N. , KO, Frank K.
Canadian Blood Services-CIHR Partnership Operating Grant Program $240,996.00
Development of porcine equivalent RCC and plasma units for translatable ex vivo organ perfusion research Principal Investigator: ACKER, Jason

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: FREED, Darren
Intramural Research Grant Program $121,834.00
DNA aptamers for detection of red blood cells destined for rapid post-transfusion clearance Principal Investigator: SHEFFIELD, William

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: DONKOR, David
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program $150,000.00
Donor characteristics and the quality of red cell concentrates Principal Investigator: ACKER, Jason

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: MYKHAILOVA, Olga
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program $165,000.00
Donor factors and product quality Principal Investigator: ACKER, Jason

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: YAZDANBAKHSH, Mahsa
Graduate Fellowship Program $122,000.00
Elianna Saidenberg Transfusion Medicine Trainee Principal Investigator: LAU, Wendy

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: TORDON, Bryan
Elianna Saidenberg Transfusion Medicine Traineeship Award $210,000.00
Elianna Saidenberg Transfusion Medicine Trainee Principal Investigator: LAU, Wendy

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: VANDERMEULEN, Heather
Elianna Saidenberg Transfusion Medicine Traineeship Award $210,000.00
Elianna Saidenberg Transfusion Medicine Trainee Principal Investigator: SHIH, Andrew

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: TAPLEY, Laura
Elianna Saidenberg Transfusion Medicine Traineeship Award $105,000.00
Elianna Saidenberg Transfusion Medicine Trainee Principal Investigator: ZELLER, Michelle

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: GABARIN, Nadia
Elianna Saidenberg Transfusion Medicine Traineeship Award $210,000.00
Elianna Saidenberg Transfusion Medicine Trainee Principal Investigator: LIN, Yulia

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: ARYA, Sumedha
Elianna Saidenberg Transfusion Medicine Traineeship Award $210,000.00
Elucidation of the mechanism of IVIG-associated hemolysis Principal Investigator: BRANCH, Donald

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: PENDERGRAST, Jacob , CSERTI-GAZDEWICH, Christine , SHEHATA, Nadine , PAVENSKI, Katerina , LAU, Wendy , CALLUM, Jeannie , LIN, Yulia , LIEBERMAN, Lani , HANNACH, Barbara
Intramural Research Grant Program $393,712.00
Enabling next generation hematopoietic-based therapeutics and manufacturing Principal Investigator: PINEAULT, Nicolas

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: MCCOMB, Scott, JEZIERSKI, Anna, MAGALHAES, Ana, IQBAL, Umer
Intramural Research Grant Program $300,000.00
Establishing national best practices for out-of-hospital blood transfusion: A collaboration of the Canadian Prehospital and Transport Transfusion (CAN-PATT) network Principal Investigator: BRODIE, Nolan

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: TROJANOWSKI, Jan, SHIH, Andrew, GREENE, Adam, EVANS, Rob, MULVEY, Jamin, CHANG, Eddie, NAHIRNIAK, Susan, PEARSON, Dallas, PROKOPCHUK-GAUK, Oksana, MARTIN, Doug, MUSUKA, Charles, SEIDL, Cindy, PEDDLE, Michael, LIN, Yulia, SMITH, Justin, MACDONALD, Scott, RICHARDS, Lindsay, FARRELL, Michael, KHANDELWAL, Aditi, CALLUM, Jeannie
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $30,000.00
Estimating the probability of HIV risk in MSM donor policies through biobehavioural and mathematical modelling studies Principal Investigator: HART, Trevor

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: LAMBERT, Gilles, GRACE, Daniel, BAUER, Greta, MOORE, David, COX, Joseph, LACHOWSKY, Nathan, MISHRA, Sharmistha, BRENNAN, David, TAN, Darrell, SKAKOON-SPARLING, Shayna
MSM Research Grant Program $452,500.00
Evaluating the role of donor characteristics and blood component manufacturing on the quality of red cell concentrates Principal Investigator: ACKER, Jason

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: BRANCH, Donald, CLARKE, Gwen, NAHIRNIAK, Susan
Intramural Research Grant Program $398,382.84
Evaluating transfusion medicine patterns of practice across GEMINI sites Principal Investigator: CALLUM, Jeannie

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: ARNOLD, Donald, VERMA, Amol, SRIVASTAVA, Siddhartha, CHENG, Calvino, ESMAIL, Tariq, DESVEAUX, Laura, TYRYSHKIN, Kathrin, KARKOUTI, Keyvan, LADHA, Karim, LI, Na, PAVENSKI, Katerina, PENDERGRAST, Jacob, PRESSEAU, Justin, SCHNEIDER, Henry, SHEHATA, Nadine, SHIH, Andrew, THIRUMURTHY, Harsha, BREHAUT, Jamie, RAZAK, Fahad, MCLCEARY, Nicola, ZUCKERMAN, Jesse
Kenneth J. Fyke Award Program $98,822.00
Evaluating unintentional warming of glycerolized red cell concentrates Principal Investigator: ACKER, Jason

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CLARKE, Gwen, TURNER, Tracy, OLAFSON, Carly, MYKHAILOVA, Olga
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $25,000.00
Evaluation and improvement of cold stored platelets Principal Investigator: DEVINE, Dana

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: ZHAO, Hanqi (Wayne)
Graduate Fellowship Program $112,333.33
Évaluation de l’acceptabilité et de la faisabilité d’un programme de dons de plasma destiné au fractionnement, pour les hommes ayant des relations sexuelles avec d’autres hommes de la communauté gaie montréalaise Principal Investigator: OTIS, Joanne

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: GERMAIN, Marc, GODIN, Gaston, PRONOVOST, Frédérick, MONTEITH, Kenneth, MYHAL, Geneviève, GIRARD, Gabriel, MORIN, Michel
MSM Research Grant Program $229,507.00
Examining the relationship between repeated blood donations in female donors on maternal/neonatal outcomes: a cohort study Principal Investigator: TINMOUTH, Alan

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CHASSE, Michael, FERGUSSON, Dean A., GOLDMAN, Mindy R., O'BRIEN, Sheila F., SPRAGUE, Ann, van WALRAVEN, Carl, WALKER, Mark C., WILSON, Kumanan
Canadian Blood Services-CIHR Partnership Operating Grant Program $135,657.00
Expanding treatment options for inflammatory bowel disease: A novel mechanism of antibody-based immunotherapy Principal Investigator: SLY, Laura

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: HORWITZ, Marc, BRESSLER, Brian, RASSEKH, Rod, TURVEY, Stuart
Canadian Blood Services-CIHR Partnership Operating Grant Program $408,540.60
Exploratory analyses to determine if method of donor blood processing affects outcome in transfused recipients Principal Investigator: HEDDLE, Nancy

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: ACKER, Jason P. , ARNOLD, Donald M. , COOK, Richard J. , EIKELBOOM, John W. , O'BRIEN, Sheila F. , WEBERT, Kathryn E.
Canadian Blood Services-CIHR Partnership Operating Grant Program $159,878.00
Fc receptor blockade in transfusion medicine Principal Investigator: LAZARUS, Alan

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: NI, Heyu, GUPTA, Akash, SHEHATA, Nadine, KJELDSEN-KRAGH, Jens, NEWMAN, Peter J., CSERTI-GAZDEWICH, Christine, RAVETCH, Jeffery
Intramural Research Grant Program $400,000.00
Fc receptor blockade related to fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia Principal Investigator: LAZARUS, Alan

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: TAWHIDI, Zoya
Graduate Fellowship Program $70,000.00
Fc receptors and IVIg in ITP Principal Investigator: LAZARUS, Alan

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CSERTI-GAZDEWICH, Christine, LIN, Yulia, CALLUM, Jeannie, SHOLZBERG, Michelle, NI, Heyu
Intramural Research Grant Program $432,000.00
Feasibility in Canada for a non-invasive prenatal testing using single-exon fetal RHD determination Principal Investigator: ACKER, Jason

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CLARKE, Gwen, BHATTI, Aniqa
Blood Efficiency Accelerator Program $20,000.00
Feasibility of implementing source plasma donation with alternative eligibility criteria for men who have sex with men Principal Investigator: PRESSEAU, Justin

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: GOLDMAN, Mindy, O'BRIEN, Sheila, MACPHERSON, Paul, OTIS, Joanne, GERMAIN, Marc, DEVINE, Dana, ROSSER, Andrew, LAPIERRE, Don
MSM Research Grant Program $309,940.00
Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia: novel mechanisms and therapeutic approaches Principal Investigator: NI, Heyu

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee:
Canadian Blood Services-CIHR Partnership Operating Grant Program $471,393.00
Generation of a coagulation factor-based thrombotic agent Principal Investigator: PRYZDIAL, Ed

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: WITT, Alexandra
Graduate Fellowship Program $52,000.00
Human monoclonal CD44 antibodies as potential IVIg replacements Principal Investigator: LAZARUS, Alan

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: NI, Heyu
Intramural Research Grant Program $336,000.00
Identification of host cellular immune mechanisms responsible for the initiation and/or modulation of Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI) Principal Investigator: SEMPLE, John

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: KUEBLER, Wolfgang M.
Canadian Blood Services-CIHR Partnership Operating Grant Program $398,982.00
Identification of mechanisms leading to antibody independent RBC hemolysis Principal Investigator: BRANCH, Donald

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: FRIAS BOLIGAN, Kayluz
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program $150,000.00
Identification of protein biomarkers for red cell quality Principal Investigator: DEVINE, Dana

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CHEN, Deborah
Graduate Fellowship Program $100,000.00
Identifying biomarkers for Staphylococcus aureus contamination of platelet component Principal Investigator: RAMIREZ-ARCOS, Sandra

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: CHI, Sylvia Ighem
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program $150,000.00
Impact of storage on the function of cord blood hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells Principal Investigator: PINEAULT, Nicolas

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: JAHAN, Suria
Graduate Fellowship Program $104,000.00
Improving blood product quality Principal Investigator: DEVINE, Dana

Co-Investigator(s) / Trainee: MA, Hongshen, JOHNSON, James, D'ALESSANDRO, Angelo
Intramural Research Grant Program $304,462.00