Project description
Encouraging people to donate blood
Blood donors play an important role in transfusions and drug production, yet only 2-3 % of people in Europe are registered donors, with numbers declining. With four million patients in Europe alone requiring blood products annually and demand on the rise, targeted donor recruitment and retention are essential to meet these needs. In this context, the ERC-funded LEARN-DO project aims to develop an interactive and engaging intervention to promote blood donation. It targets two key groups: potential donors and blood collection agencies. The project proposes three installation elements to address vital motivators and barriers – the Donor Picture Pillar, the Donation Experience, and the Conversation Couch. It prioritises project management, scientific research, technical/educational aspects, and business.
Objective
"Background. Without blood donors, there are no blood products to transfuse and no plasma for pharmaceutical drug production. Four million patients are annually treated with blood derived products in Europe alone, given by voluntary donors. Yet, as little as 2-3% of the population is registered as blood donor and donor numbers are decreasing during the last decades. At the same time, the demand for specific blood products is increasing. Hence, it is crucial that a countrys donor pool is sufficient to ensure access to every needed blood type and plasma product. Targeted recruitment and retention of donors is vital to meet these demands.
Aim. LEARN-DO intends to develop and market a fun and interactive knowledge intervention to stimulate key motivators and overcome key barriers for individuals to become a blood donor.
Approach. We target two main stakeholder groups with this intervention. Individuals (children and adults) who can be potential future donors and blood collection agencies that need to recruit future donors to meet the demands for blood products. We propose three installation elements that manipulate key barriers and motivators of blood donation. A Donor Picture Pillar that provides information about blood donation and shows patient and donor stories. A ""Donation Experience"" to decrease fears and psychological distance towards blood donation and a Conversation Couch to stimulate talking about donation among participants.
Organisation and Impact. The project is organised in four work Packages (WP). The overarching project management (WP1, led by the PI at the host institute) will ensure that the impact proposition will include all scientific (WP2), technical/education (WP3) and business (WP4) aspects. LEARN-DO can thoroughly change the recruitment of future donors and improve the recruitment strategy of blood collection agencies by making them more evidence-based, fun and interactive and targeted to specific groups, including families and members from ethnic minorities."
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept GrantsHost institution
1081 HV Amsterdam
Netherlands