News

Congratulations to recent Kizhakkedathu alumnus Dr. Rafi Chapanian and current Kizhakkedathu lab member Iren Constantinescu on their most recent work showcased in J. Am. Chem. Soc. They assisted Dr. David Kwan, a PDF in the Withers group in implementing a new strategy to make a ‘universal’ blood type devoid of any major antigens using an improved enzymatic methodology. You can read more about it in a recent posting by the Centre for Blood Research. This breakthrough has received attention from major media outlets including the CBC, Washington Post and as far as the Delhi Daily News!

A study led by senior post doctoral fellow, Dr. Rafi Chapanian has recently been showcased in the latest issue of Nature Communications. In collaboration with fellow UBC scientists in Dr. Stephen Withers research group,this work demonstrates enhanced rates of cell surface reactions and interactions by means of macromolecular crowding. In the article, the practical utility of this enhancement technology is demonstrated by efficient enzymatic conversion of A, B and AB red blood cells to universal (O) donor red blood cells at physiological pH and at room temperatures. Congratulations!