Division of Hematology & Thromboembolism

Morris Blajchman

MD, FRCPC (C)

Professor Emeritus, Division of Hematology and Thromboembolism, Department of Medicine

Departments of Pathology and Molecular Medicine

Head, Transfusion Medicine Service, Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program, Hamilton Health Sciences

Director, Blood Products Laboratory, McMaster University

Medical Director, Canadian Blood Services, Hamilton Centre McMaster University

Education and Professional Standing

  • B.Sc. McGill University, with Distinction, 1960
  • M.D McGill University, 1964
  • FRCP(C) Internal Medicine, 1968
  • FRCP(C) Hematology, 1970

Dr. Morris A. Blajchman qualified as a physician at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. His postgraduate training was in Internal Medicine at the Graduate Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and in Hematology at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School in London, England. The latter was with the illustrious hematologist Sir John Dacie. Dr. Blajchman has been on faculty of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario since 1970. Dr. Blajchman, over his 30+ year career, has received many awards and honours, including the 2004 Foundation Lecturer for the Royal College of Pathologists, London, UK and the Emily Cooley Award and Lectureship from the AABB at the 2004 Annual Meeting.

Research Interests

Dr. Blajchman has been active in research relating to various aspects of Transfusion Medicine and hemostasis, including: the investigation of the hemostatic function of novel platelet products and substitutes; the evaluation of leukoreduction as a clinical benefit for transfusion recipients; the study of the immunomodulatory aspects of allogeneic transfusions; the evaluation of the significance of bacteria in the blood supply; the investigation of transfusion requirements in critical care patients; and the exploration of structural-functional relationships of various clotting factors and inhibitors of coagulation.

Selected Publications

Dr. Blajchman has published, or has in press, over 350 articles and book chapters relating to his academic activities. In December 2002, Dr. Blajchman became Section Editor for the Transfusion Section of the new Hematology web site “BloodMed.com” coordinated by Blackwell Publishing. In addition, he is the founding Editor (since 1987) of Transfusion Medicine Reviews, which in January 2006 began its twentieth year of publication.

  1. Arnold DM, Heddle NM, Kulczycky M, Carruthers J, Resz I, Rashid F, Sigouin C, MA Blajchman. A randomized crossover trial comparing in vivo recovery and survival of apheresis and whole blood derived platelets in healthy volunteers. Transfusion 2006; 46:257-264.
  2. Blajchman MA. Landmark studies that have changed the practice of Transfusion Medicine. Transfusion 2005; 45: 1523-1530.
  3. Webert K, Blajchman MA. Transfusion-related acute lung injury. Current Opinion in Haematology 2005; 12: 480-487.
  4. Goldman M, Webert KE, Arnold DM, Freedman J, Hannon J, Blajchman MA. Proceedings of a Consensus Conference: Towards an understanding of TRALI. Transfusion Medicine Reviews 2005; 19: 2-32.
  5. Hillyer CD, Josephson CD, Blajchman MA, Vostal JG, Epstein JS, Goodman JL. Bacterial Contamination of Blood Components: Risks, Strategies, and Regulation. Hematology (American Society of Hematology Education Program) 2003; 575-589.
  6. Blajchman MA. Substitutes and alternatives to platelet transfusions in thrombocytopenic patients. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis 2003; 1:1637-1641.
  7. Hébert PC, Fergusson DA, Blajchman MA, Wells GA, Kmetic A, Coyle D, Heddle NM, Germain M, Goldman M, Toye B, Schweitzer I, VanWalraven C, Devine D, Sher G. Clinical outcomes following institution of the Canadian universal leukoreduction program for red cells. JAMA 2003; 289:1941-1949.
  8. Vamvakas EC, Blajchman MA. Universal white-cell reduction: The case for and against. Transfusion 2001; 41:691-712.
  9. Vamvakas EC, Blajchman MA. Deleterious clinical effects of transfusion-associated immunomodulation: Fact or fiction? Blood 2001; 97:1180-1195.
  10. Hébert PC, Wells G, Blajchman MA, Marshall J, Martin C, Pagliarello G, Tweeddale M, Schweitzer I, Yetisir E and the TRICC investigators. A multicentre randomized controlled trial of transfusion requirements in critical care. New Engl J Med 1999; 340:409-417.