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Research study update: Understanding the anti-D immune response

This project is an exciting search for the holy grail of anti-D donor research: identifying the “secret sauce” in a person’s immune response that makes them produce an anti-D immune response.

Meet the researchers

Behind the scenes with the team.

23 August 2024

How does ABDS link to other projects at Lifeblood?

Dr Alexis Perros is a research fellow, and she's using genomic techniques and samples from the ABDS biobank to help answer questions about blood group systems and iron storage.

23 August 2024

ABDS update

Find out what we’ve found (so far) and what happens next.

23 August 2024

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Research study update: Understanding how blood donors deal with receiving a low haemoglobin result

In August 2023 we started giving donors a letter to take to their doctor if their haemoglobin (Hb) levels were low.

03 July 2024

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Unlocking the potential of Filipino blood donors: a giving and engaging community

Did you know that blood types go beyond A, B, and O? In fact, there are over 350 different blood types, and some of those are more common in people with particular ethnic ancestry.

12 June 2024

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ABDS - Frequently asked questions

I couldn’t provide a sample when I was at a donor centre and now I can’t donate, can I still be part of the study?Yes. The blood samples are just one part of the study.

21 February 2024

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Nervous, relaxed, proud: Understanding novice donors’ feelings

Take home message

31 January 2024

illustration of a person holding up a large red blood droplet and a scientist in a white coat holding a magnifying glass

How does the Australian Blood Donor Study (ABDS) link to other projects at Lifeblood?

Learn more about the different projects that will depend on your survey responses and blood samples.

24 January 2024

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Meet a researcher

Behind the scenes with Dr Surendra Karki, a Lifeblood Research Fellow

24 January 2024

photo of a scientist wearing goggles and placing a box of samples into a freezer

ABDS update February 2024

Find out what we’ve found (so far) and what happens next.

24 January 2024

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What does climate change have to do with blood donation?

Climate change has emerged as one of the greatest challenges of our time.

11 August 2023

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Research study update: Beyond the iron gate

People with Hereditary haemochromatosis (HHC) who donate at Lifeblood reported that they feel more like donors than patients. This suggests that Lifeblood could change the way we communicate with them, as we currently communicate with them as “patients”. They did not know much about plasma and had mixed views on being able to donate plasma.

04 July 2023

Why plasma matters

Plasma can be a real game changer!

What would it take to get you to donate blood regularly?

One of the easiest ways to help meet demand is to encourage those who already donate to give blood more often. But what would it take to encourage regular blood donation? Why don’t we pay donors?

28 November 2022

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Communicating with donors who have rare blood types

What does it mean to find out you’re rare? Lifeblood researchers set out to explore the experience of donors learning of their rare blood type: what it means for them, their donation behaviour and perspectives on the communications received.

07 November 2022

illustration of a donor holding a red blood droplet, standing next to them is a scientist in a white lab coat, in the background is a microscope

Research study update: ASPECT study | Antigen specific T cells for COVID-19 Therapy and the Therapeutic cell bank

Lifeblood researchers, with the help of a small number of very dedicated donors, were able to contribute to some amazing work on novel COVID-19 therapies being conducted by Associate Professor Emily Blyth and her team in the Westmead T-Cell Therapies Group (WTCG) at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research.

09 September 2022

illustration of a scientist standing in front of test tubes

vCJD: a short history

A short history of vCJD, or “mad cow” disease: what causes it, how does it affect people and why is it so hard to detect?

25 July 2022

vCJD: how data drives our donation decisions

Understand why it’s now safe for UK donors to donate, after years of restrictions.

illustration of a globe of the earth, standing on one side are two people holding large red blood droplets and on the other side are standing two scientists in white lab coats

What we’ve learned about blood donors in 2022

Blood donors are overachievers. Not only are you giving to change lives, but your donation can also contribute to world-leading research, like helping track the progress of a pandemic.

13 July 2022

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Views on genomic testing of donated blood

What was the question? We know relatively little about how donors and non-donors think about the testing of blood for genomic markers.

02 May 2022

a lab worker is wearing a blue gown and gloves and is holding two boxes of blood packs marked B positive

Research finds Australian blood types not so bleeding obvious

A landmark study of 1.3 million Australian patients and nearly half a million blood donors has found the nation’s blood types have become more “positive”, citing an increase in ethnic diversity as

21 March 2022

a scientist is wearing a white coat and purple gloves, she is looking at a vial of blood she's holding up

Blood of the future

Have you ever wondered if we could grow blood outside the body? It’s an exciting prospect, with incredible potential.

a woman is holding her sunglasses up and smiling off camera, on her elbow is a true colours designed bandage

New research shows the humble blood donation bandage signals health and generosity

Are you seen as bragging or simply generous when you wear a branded bandage after donating blood? It’s one question that Dr. Michael Lam in conjunction with Dr. Barnaby Dixon and Prof. Masser from Lifeblood’s Research and Development Donor Research Team asked when looking at how we can encourage more men to donate blood.

11 October 2021

Iron in the balance: too much of a good thing?

If you’re a regular blood donor, you’ll be familiar with the “finger prick” test at each donation.

20 July 2021

a donor is smiling sitting back in a seat looking up at a staff member

Research Study Update: Findings from the Australian Blood Donor Study pilot

What was the question?  We need to make sure that donors are happy to help with a large, long-term study before we can begin one.

a blue frozen blood box is being taken out of a freezer by a scientist wearing gloves and a gown

Frozen blood research

During active combat, the prompt and safe supply of blood products can save the lives of our Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel.

Better management of the O negative blood supply

Our O negative donors are being asked to give more frequently than anyone else.

several test tubes of blood are in a holder

The blood type you didn’t know you had

Sometimes it takes a rare occurrence for us to understand the commonplace.

Solving rare blood type mysteries

Your blood type is more complicated than you think. There are hundreds of possible variations apart from the commonly known ABO and Rhesus blood groups.

Rethinking platelet storage

Platelets are routinely stored with agitation at room temperature for 5 days, when they’re discarded if they haven’t been transfused.

a donor is seated and looking up at a nurse, both are smiling

Caring for donors

Donors are the lifeblood of our organisation.   We collect around 31,000 donations every week to meet the constant demand for life-saving products, and our