ERC Consolidator Grant for Sanquin research into personalized plasma donations

With the prestigious ERC Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council, professor Katja van den Hurk (Sanquin, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam) now has the opportunity to conduct in-depth research into the consequences of (frequent) plasma donation. The ERC funds leading researchers who carry out innovative and ambitious research programs. The grant was awarded because of the groundbreaking and societal relevance of the DONOR-PROTECT research project, and the confidence in Van den Hurk and Sanquin to make the project a success.

A healthy donor is the basis of a sustainable blood supply

“Donating too often, can lead to iron and protein deficiencies, with largely unknown consequences. But what ‘too often’ is for one person, may be relatively little for another. Nevertheless, uniform guidelines apply in Europe, without regard for differences between donors. DONOR-PROTECT will break through that,” explains Van den Hurk. 

Within this project, she and her colleagues are developing the first personalized strategy to protect donor health, based on:

• large randomized clinical trials (RCTs) among blood and plasma donors;
• individual health characteristics, such as genetics, nutrition, gender, and menstrual patterns;
• advanced data analysis and biostatistics;
• assessment of ethical, legal, and social aspects.

While some donors can donate more often in a responsible manner, other donors will be better protected by longer intervals or additional interventions. The result: a sustainable, ethically responsible blood and plasma supply for the whole of Europe.

Impact on policy and practice

The approach replaces the current ‘one-size-fits-all’ guidelines with smart, tailor-made advice. The insights will be used to improve EU-wide policy and guidelines, making millions of future donations even safer for the donor.

Collaboration of top expertise

DONOR-PROTECT is being carried out in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team from the fields of epidemiology, immunology, data science, and medical-ethical research within and outside Sanquin and Amsterdam UMC: Marieke van Ham and Anja ten Brinke (Sanquin Research), Emanuele Di Angelantonio (University of Cambridge), Christian Erikstrup (Aarhus University), Peter van de Ven (UMC Utrecht), Jean-Baptiste Thibert (EFS), and of course many colleagues within Sanquin who are involved in donor medicine, blood collection, donor administration, ICT, and communication.

Dot on the horizon

In five years' time, the DONOR-PROTECT algorithm should be ready for implementation in blood banks and plasma centers in Europe, so that every donor can count on personalized and safe care, and patients on the products they need.

Katja van den Hurk: “I am incredibly proud and grateful for this ERC grant. With this grant, we can scientifically substantiate that personalized care for donors is essential for a sustainable blood and plasma supply. With DONOR-PROTECT, we are not only protecting lives, but also the heroes who save lives.”