UBC Centre for Blood Research
2350 Health Sciences Mall, LSC 4th floor V6T 1Z3 Vancouver, BC, Canada

What influences the selection of a Nobel Prize recipient, and what issues surround this choice? In this third blog of the Nobel Prize Award series, Maria-Elizabeth Baeva explores the Prize's governance and structure, and 3 key issues around the scientific award process: the guidelines around no posthumous awards, the favoritism towards basic science rather than application, and the insistence on awarding only up to 3 individuals per prize. Read more: http://ow.ly/Ih2350Drx9W

Looking for ways to stay active this February? UBC Wellbeing & UBC REC have you covered! Explore ways to move more, move well & move anywhere: http://bit.ly/39F3TUV #WellnessWednesday #MoveUBC

Learn from Dr. Jill Johnsen about the "Genetics of #hemophilia" at our CBR Virtual Seminar tomorrow, starting at 11AM PST! Bloodworks Northwest University of Washington Department of Medicine

Today is #BellLetsTalk Day. Now more than ever, it's important for us to continue the conversation about mental health, & to foster a workplace culture where everyone's wellbeing matters. You are not alone. For members of our CBR community, we'd like to highlight some mental health and well-being resources available to you: For UBC students: https://students.ubc.ca/health... For UBC faculty & staff: https://hr.ubc.ca/health-and-wellbeing CBR mental health & wellbeing resources: https://cbr.ubc.ca/research-and-tr/mental-health-resources/ #EndTheStigma #JoinTheConversation #MentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #Wellbeing

Congratulations to Dr. Jayachandran Kizhakkedathu, who was recently inducted as a Biomaterials Science and Engineering (FBSE) Fellow! Announced at the 11th World Biomaterials Congress in December 2020, Dr. Kizhakkedathu is one of three Canadian professors who have been inducted as Fellows, a recognition that celebrates the researchers’ outstanding contributions to biomaterials research, education, and service. His research encompasses multiple themes, including macromolecul...ar therapeutics, cell-surface engineering, proteomic reagents, and blood-compatible surfaces and devices. A key focus of his work is on biomaterial innovation, with a common foundation in applied hematology and translational medicine. Read more: http://ow.ly/tT4P50Dk7tq UBC Chemistry Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UBC

New year, new seminars! Join us this Wed Jan 27 to hear from Dr. Heather Hume about "Transfusion Medicine in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and Controversies". Faculté de médecine - Université de Montréal ... Makerere University College of Health Sciences See more

What are innate defense regulator (IDR) peptides, & how can they help us treat infections? In this blog, Dr. Katharine Sedivy-Haley covers a recent paper from the Hancock Lab on this exciting research topic.... Read more: http://ow.ly/quTF50CiVI4

Happy Halloween! Tonight may be the spookiest night of year, but there's no need to be afraid of the Excellent Erythrocyte, AKA the Red Blood Cell. Learn more about red blood cells here: http://ow.ly/ZyiY50BwZJW

As we approach our 14th annual Earl W. Davie Symposium next Tuesday, we take a moment remember Dr. Davie and share a piece by the American Society of Hematology, which celebrates his legacy in both mentorship and in science http://ow.ly/vme650CgKg5

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: CBR researchers Drs. Agnes Lee and Andrew Shih are helping the fight against COVID-19, with the support of the VCHRI COVID-19 Research Fund. http://ow.ly/a5Xp50C7Gfr

"We may have missed out on some traditions of the CBR Graduate Awards Program... I choose to focus on the optimistic view of being part of the first GAP cohort to take a physically distanced group photo with everyone wearing masks, while assembling Care Packages for our CBR members to enjoy. And there was no shortage of laughs or good times in the process!" Peter Grin, a PhD Candidate in the Overall Lab and member of the 2019-20 CBR Graduate Awards Program (GAP) cohort, reflects on a year of change. His blog takes you from the 1st GAP icebreaker meeting to the creation of "Treat Yourself Care Packages" for the CBR community. http://ow.ly/LbOR50C6ffQ

Congratulations to CBR researcher Dr. Natalie Strynadka, one of several UBC Faculty of Medicine scientists who received funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation. The scientists received $2.7M to support important COVID-19 research projects. Dr. Strynadka's project will involve "Expanding COVID19 structure-based therapeutic development at UBC through enhanced CryoEM and CryoET data acquisition." Read more: http://ow.ly/hlhL50CfULN

Happy STEM & STEAM Day! To celebrate, we're giving a shoutout to our #CBRoutreach Team, a group of scientists who are passionate about sharing science with others, whether through student workshops, science & art initiatives, or other channels. Over the years, Outreach Team members have taken part in many exciting opportunities, like our CBR Blood Labs Program, CBR facility tours, the Elder Scholar lecture series, and special outreach events like the annual Girls and STEA...M event hosted by Science World. Thanks to everyone on the Outreach Team for sharing your scientific passion with others! We look forward to lots of wonderful STEAM initiatives and more collaborations with community partners in the future.

We're excited to launch our 3rd Lay Science Writing Competition in partnership with Canadian Blood Services! A great opportunity for undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and research associates to showcase their research to the public & develop communication skills. This year's theme is "Challenges 2020". More information: https://tinyurl.com/lswc2020

Dr. Dana Devine was featured in a CBC News article about using convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19. She shared insights on why not all plasma from recovered people can be used in the Canadian trials on adults, children and teens who are admitted to hospital or intensive care with COVID-19 at sites across the country. https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/plasma-covid201023-1.5774663

Sign up for our next Career Ask Me Anything Café, taking place on Thursday Nov 5! We're pleased to invite Dr. Kasey Hemington, a Data Scientist at Shopify & avid science communicator at BrainPost, a weekly e-newsletter summarizing the latest neuroscience studies. Hosted in collaboration with UBC Microbiology & Immunology. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/career-AMA-cafe-1105

What is patient-oriented research, and why is it so important to engage with patients and their families in our scientific work? In this blog, researcher Sarah Bowers sits down with Cassie Porte of Cassie and Friends Society for Juvenile Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases to chat about this topic. Together, they talk about why it’s important for researchers to hear from patients and communities, how researchers can engage patients especially youth in their work, and how to better support patients through this approach in the future. Read the blog here: http://ow.ly/9S4J50CcyH2

FROM THE BLOG: Postdoctoral Fellow Narges Hadjesfandiari shares reflections from AABB 2019, including her favourite event talks & her excitement when winning a trainee presentation award! A truly memorable first AABB meeting. Read more: http://ow.ly/JFtP50BZWrw

It was a pleasure to hear from Dr. Lupe Jaraquemada-Peláez, recipient of the 2020 Michael John Page Postdoctoral Fellow award, and from those who shared Dr. Page's legacy. At the virtual ceremony this morning, Lupe spoke about her research & her careers in both the arts & sciences. Congratulations on the award, Lupe!

Calling all trainees! Have you submitted an abstract yet for our virtual Earl W. Davie Symposium on Nov 17? Top abstracts will be selected for a short talk or poster at the event - a great opportunity! #CBR_EWD2020 Deadline: Mon Oct 26, 2020... Learn more: http://ow.ly/L2jn50BKbyy See more

20 years after the release of the Human Genome, the genetic blueprint of human life, an international research team including Dr. Chris Overall has mapped the 1st draft sequence of the Human Proteome. Whereas the Human Genome provides a complete blueprint of human genes, the Human Proteome identifies the individual building blocks of life encoded by this blueprint: proteins. https://cbr.ubc.ca/mapping-human-proteome/

Congratulations to Dr. Lupe Jaraquemada-Peláez, Orvig Lab member and recipient of the 2020 Michael John Page Postdoctoral Fellow Award! Next Wednesday at 11AM, Dr. Jaraquemada-Peláez will present an exciting talk on "Design: From the Arts to Radiopharmaceuticals".

"While Dr. Packham’s many scientific publications certainly influenced the field, I feel that her real legacy is the numerous students she has guided into many scientific and medical disciplines." Dr. Ed Pryzdial shares his memories of Dr. Marian Packham, who was a Professor Emerita at the University of Toronto, iconic researcher in hemostasis biochemistry, and thoughtful mentor to other scientists. https://cbr.ubc.ca/the-passing-of-a-platelet-pioneer/

With much of our work now taking place virtually, it's important to reduce eye strain and take care of your vision. This UBC Student Life blog shares 9 tips for good eye care. #WellnessWednesday https://students.ubc.ca//9-spectacular-eye-care-tips-onlin