RCSI’s Professor James O’Donnell has secured €2 million in funding from Research Ireland and the Irish Blood Transfusion Service to lead a major national research programme investigating how biological differences between blood groups influence the body’s ability to control bleeding.

The four-year Irish ABO and Coagulation (iABC) study will explore why people with different blood groups experience varying risks of excessive bleeding, thrombosis and transfusion-related complications.

The award was announced by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, as part of the Research Ireland Strategic Partnership Programme.

Understanding blood groups and bleeding risk

While the ABO blood group system has long been central to blood transfusion medicine, blood type also plays an important role in regulating bleeding and clotting. People with blood type O, in particular, are known to face a higher risk of excessive bleeding, but the biological mechanisms behind this remain poorly understood.

The iABC programme will address these questions by analysing blood samples and health data from 1,000 Irish blood donors. The study will create the first large-scale national biorepository in Ireland dedicated to understanding the relationship between blood groups and coagulation.

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 also support six early-career scientists over the next four years, including three PhD students and three postdoctoral researchers, helping to build capacity in cardiovascular and transfusion research in Ireland.

Professor James O’Donnell, Director of the Irish Centre for Vascular Biology at RCSI School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences and lead investigator 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”

National collaboration to improve healthcare

Professor Fergal O’Brien, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at RCSI, welcomed the award saying: “This significant investment reflects the strength of RCSI’s translational research and our commitment to addressing healthcare challenges through collaboration and innovation at a national level. This programme will generate important new insights into bleeding disorders, with the potential to improve patient care, strengthen transfusion medicine and support evidence-based healthcare delivery.”

The programme represents a major collaboration between RCSI and the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, combining expertise in vascular biology, transfusion medicine and clinical research.

Orla O’Brien, CEO of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, said: “We are delighted to partner with the Irish 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.”