Research Ireland and Irish Blood Transfusion Service to fund major study into blood groups and bleeding risk
Four-year programme will investigate how a person’s blood group can influence bleeding, clotting and transfusion outcomes.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD has today announced a new €2 million Strategic Partnership Programme award, co-funded by Research Ireland and the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS), to support research into how biological differences between blood groups influence the body’s ability to control bleeding.
The four-year Irish ABO and Coagulation (iABC) study is led by Prof. James O’Donnell at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Announcing the funding, Minister Lawless said:
This award represents a targeted public investment in research that will directly benefit our healthcare system and, more broadly, our society. By investing in research that deepens understanding of bleeding and clotting, this programme will have clear impact for patients, blood donors and frontline health services. This study will contribute to improved understanding of conditions that affect many people, while also strengthening evidence to inform safe and effective patient care.
Welcoming the award, Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, CEO of Research Ireland, said:
Research Ireland is committed to supporting ambitious collaborations that bring researchers and key national stakeholders together to address important societal and health challenges. This partnership between RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and the Irish Blood Transfusion Service exemplifies how combining academic and clinical expertise can deliver new knowledge with real relevance for patients. I congratulate Prof. O’Donnell and his team on this award, and thank IBTS for its commitment to supporting this important research.
Although blood groups are known to play an important role in bleeding and clotting, the reasons for these effects are poorly understood. People with blood type O, in particular, are known to have higher risk of excessive bleeding. This has important implications for many women, as heavy menstrual bleeding is common and can lead to iron deficiency and reduced quality of life. The iABC programme will investigate these links by analysing blood samples and health data from Irish blood donors.
Prof. James O’Donnell, Professor of Vascular Biology at RCSI School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences and lead of the iABC study, said:
The importance of the ABO blood group system in blood transfusion medicine has been recognised for many decades. In contrast, although there is strong evidence that ABO also influences risks for bleeding and thrombosis, the biological mechanisms involved remain poorly defined. The novel research plan envisaged in this partnership will directly address this important clinical question.
Orla O’Brien, CEO of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, commented:
We are delighted to partner with the Centre for Vascular Biology at RCSI. This is a natural and synergistic partnership for both our organisations, given the Irish Blood Transfusion Service has a long-standing commitment to deepening our understanding of blood donation, transfusion, and usage. Supporting health research that expands our knowledge of bleeding, is crucial to improving donor care, patient outcomes, and ultimately, quality of life.
iABC is the first large-scale programme of its kind in Ireland. It will recruit 1,000 Irish blood donors, creating a unique national biorepository to support future research. The findings have the potential to improve the treatment of bleeding disorders, support safer and more effective transfusion processes, and inform care for patients in emergency situations. The programme will support six early-career researchers over the 48-month duration, including three PhD students and three postdoctoral researchers, helping to build capacity in cardiovascular and transfusion research in Ireland.
Photo caption: Left-right: Dr Siobhan Roche, Director, Research for the Economy, Research Ireland; Dr Allison Waters, Head of Research & Innovation, Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS); Dr Andrew Godfrey, Medical & Scientific Director, IBTS; and Prof. James O’Donnell, Professor of Vascular Biology at RCSI School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences and Project Lead. Photo: Jason Clarke.
