Cattapan’s project will identify how renewable and reproductive tissues (such as blood, sperm, eggs and bone marrow) 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 researchwill 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,” said 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.”
“James Kreppner was a former CBS board member and a strong advocate for blood safety,” said Judie Leach Bennett, CBS vice-president, general counsel and corporate secretary. “He was also a fellow lawyer, with a clear-thinking approach to legal, ethical and policy issues.” “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.”
Supported by the JSGS Centre for the Study of Science and Innovation Policy, her research will involve leading experts on tissue legislation 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.
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For more information, contact:
Erica Schindel
Erica Schindel
JSGS Communications and Marketing Specialist
University of Saskatchewan
Jenny Ryan
Strategic Communications Specialist
Canadian Blood Services
613-739-2010