U of S researcher investigates the business of blood and tissue in Canada

Alana Cattapan, assistant professor in the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy (JSGS) at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) has been awarded the Canadian Blood Services (CBS)’ James Kreppner Award ($43,275) to study the commercialization of blood and tissue in Canada.

“James Kreppner was a former CBS board member and a strong advocate for blood safety.  He was also a fellow lawyer, with a clear-thinking approach to legal, ethical, and policy issues,” says Judie Leach Bennett, CBS vice-president, general counsel and corporate secretary.  “Named in his honour, this award supports high quality research to inform legal and policy questions related to the products and services provided by our organization today.  Alana Cattapan’s work will help provide provinces and territories with comparative research and advice on harmonizing and reforming legislation that will benefit all of Canada.”

Cattapan’s project will identify how renewable and reproductive (e.g., blood, sperm, eggs, bone marrow) tissues are governed across Canada. Human tissue legislation varies from province to province, and her research will examine the ways that this legislation has evolved in different jurisdictions, including provisions that allow for the sale of different human tissues. Her research will also address ethical, legal, and social concerns about the commercialization of human tissues, and will make recommendations for legal reform to promote harmonization.

“I am honoured to be able to do this work with the support of Canadian Blood Services and the James Kreppner award,” says Cattapan. “My hope is that by studying the history of tissue exemptions, we can inform discussions of legislative reform on matters related to donation of blood, blood products, and other tissues in Canada.”

Supported by the JSGS Centre for the Study of Science and Innovation Policy, her research will involve leading experts on tissue legislations and commercialization – Barbara von Tigerstrom (College of Law, U of S), Erin Nelson (College of Law, University of Alberta) and Rosanne Dawson (CBS legal counsel) – as well as law and public policy students.

Alana Cattapan speaks to Canadian Blood Services about her research.