Nancy Heddle, PhD

The Transfusion Research Program at McMaster University combines both quantitative and qualitative methodological techniques to address a wide variety of transfusion related questions to provide a bench-to-bedside evidence based approach to transfusion medicine practice. Quantitative research approaches utilize both experimental and non-experimental research designs ranging from surveys to cohort studies, to randomized controlled trials. Current areas of interest which utilize these techniques include adverse effects to blood transfusion, determining the optimal dose for platelet transfusion, and optimal transfusion trigger thresholds. Qualitative approaches are being used to address a number of questions related to blood donor research including optimal approaches for deferral of blood donors and recruitment of blood donors, exploring the effectiveness of hospital Transfusion Committees, and development of a clinical history assessment tool (CHAT) to assist in standardized documentation of clinical information from patients with bleeding disorders.

The research group is also involved in a major Quality Management Project funded through the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care to develop quality essential tools that can be used to ensure standardization and optimal transfusion practices within the hospital setting. In addition to these activities blood utilization is also a primary focus of the Transfusion Research Program at McMaster University.

Selected References

Heddle NM, Kelton JG, Smaill F, Foss K, Everson J, Janzen C, Walker WEC, Jones M, Hammons D. A Canadian hospital-based HIV/hepatitis lookback notification program. CMAJ 157:149-153, 1997.

Heddle NM. Cytokines in platelet concentrates. Hematology 2:473-484, 1998.

Heddle NM, Klama L, Meyer R, Walker I, Boshkov L, Roberts R, Chambers S, Podlosky L, O’Hoski P, Levine M. A randomized controlled trial comparing plasma removal with leukoreduction to prevent reactions to platelets. Transfusion 39:231-238, 1999.

Heddle NM, Blajchman MA, Meyer R, Lipton J, Walker I, Sher GD, Constantini L, Patterson B, Roberts R, Thorpe K, Levine M. A randomized controlled trial comparing the frequency of acute reactions and post transfusion platelet recovery of plasma removed and pre-storage leukoreduced platelets. Transfusion 2002; 42:556-566.

Couban S, Andreou P, Klama L, Carruthers J, Barr R, Kelton JG, Heddle NM. A randomized prospective crossover trial of plasma removal to reduce the frequency of acute platelet transfusion reactions in children. Transfusion 2002; 42:754-758.

Heddle NM. Evidence Based Clinical Reporting: A Need for Improvement. (Editorial) Transfusion 2002; 42:1106-1110.