Population health, donor research and cellular therapies
We're a multidisciplinary team with a broad mix of skill sets including psychology, sociology, public health, epidemiology, clinical research, nursing, cellular biology and marketing.
In donor research, we use both quantitative and qualitative methods to examine what motivates or hinders our varied donor panel. Our cellular therapies team addresses patient care needs by growing red blood cells from stem cells and developing starting materials for immunotherapies. Meanwhile, our population health researchers study blood samples to assess disease impacts on Australian communities, expanding our influence beyond transfusion services.
Research leaders
Dr Aaron Akpu Philip
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr Becky Griffiths
Senior Research Fellow
Dr Kathleen Chell
Research Fellow
Dr Kristen Baker
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr Rachel Thorpe
Senior Research Fellow
Dr Rena Hirani
Senior Research Fellow
Dr Sara Chiaretti
Research Fellow
Dr Wayne B. Dyer
Senior Research Fellow
Elizabeth Knight
National Research Lead- Population Health, Donor Research and Cellular Therapies
Population health, donor research and cellular therapies R&D Leadership Team
Justine O'Donovan
National Clinical Research Nurse Manager
Prof Barbara Masser
Joint Chair of Donor Research
Population health, donor research and cellular therapies R&D Leadership Team
Current projects
Donor behaviour
We're always interested in what makes our donors tick. Right now, we're looking at word-of-mouth as a powerful way to recruit blood donors. But talking about donation can be tricky without help, so we're investigating the best ways for Lifeblood to help donors chat to potential new donors.
We're also evaluating the impact of two world-first group donation programs, Lifeblood Teams and the Donate with a Friend initiative, alongside other ways to donate as a group, like through your workplace, community group, or family connections.
Growing blood in the lab
It’s a futuristic concept with amazing potential to save lives. We're harnessing the latest technologies to explore the world of blood grown outside of the body. From using 3D cell scaffolds to investigating donor influence on cell growth outcomes, there's more than meets the eye in the world of lab grown blood.
Latest findings
Selected publications
Donating blood in a team: Investigating social factors as predictors and outcomes of a positive team experience.
2025
Transfusion
65(6):1092-1110
Exploring the experiences of hemochromatosis (HHC) patients who undergo therapeutic venesection at a blood collection agency
2025
Transfusion
65(3):3 531-538
Rethinking the role of older donors in a sustainable blood supply
2025
Transfusion
65(4):758-766
A rapid review of strategies to manage low iron levels in adults donating whole-blood: A focus on donor behaviour.
2024
Transfusion Medicine
34; 243-256
Loyalty programmes for prosocial behaviour: a case study of Lifeblood Gifts
2025
Journal of Social Impact in Business Research
1(2):20-38