Towards a Pan-European Transfusion Research infrAstructure (PETRA)

Organisation: Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation

Lead researcher: Katja van den Hurk

Grant amount: EUR 25,000

Project duration: 01.04.2024-31.03.2026

About

There is a lot of variation in blood donation practices, and in how blood transfusions are used for patients in hospitals. Blood continues to be used when not necessary or as indicated in major guidelines. Although blood transfusion supports many areas of patient health needs, including cancer treatment, blood transfusion carries risks to both donors and recipients. To address these many challenges, we need to develop different approaches to improve use and supply of blood.
One option is to better use routine data in blood donation and transfusion. We first wish to see what databases exist across Europe that may be relevant to donor health and blood transfusion. We therefore conduct a survey to see what donor and patient datasets exist in Europe and how they might be adapted for use in transfusion. A ‘proof-of-concept’ project will then help us to understand how much variation in blood transfusion practice exists in and between hospitals. By linking such data across Europe, we can then start to develop a better understanding of how the blood supply chain works from the blood donor to the patient. Our project is the start of a research journey to expand use of health care data and routinely collected data about blood transfusion, blood donors and patients in Europe. Finally, we will develop a plan to work towards a transfusion research infrastructure across and beyond Europe. Our ultimate goal is to better understand and improve the blood supply chain from donor to patient.

Aims

To undertake a survey of existing data repositories in Europe, to perform an exemplary analysis of ‘where blood goes’ using routine data and electronic systems (using methodology already tested), and to develop an action plan for building vein-to-vein research infrastructures across Europe.
The overarching aim is to initiate a programme of research that informs the wider development of aligned ‘vein-to-vein’ donor to patient datasets at a European level, which can be maintained prospectively. We are building partnerships for a broader and ambitious program of transfusion research, in collaboration with multiple partners including EBA, EHA, and ISBT, as well as blood establishments and hospitals across Europe.

Expected results

The results of this exploratory project will provide the empirical basis and a practical starting point for the development of pan-European ‘vein-to-vein’ research infrastructure. The goals of this infrastructure are to facilitate efficient research, effective benchmarking, and ultimately improved transfusion care and donor and patient outcomes across Europe.

To find out more about the project, you can reach out to the team here: petraproject[at]sanquin.nl