I had the pleasure of speaking with Fez Awan; Chairman of RPLAN, NHS Blood & Transplant Ambassador and three times kidney transplant recipient, about his prodigious and inspiring journey as a patient and organisational leader within renal transplantation. Fez aged 3, ready to receive his April Fool’s Transplant. Fez was born with total…Continue Reading The April Fool’s Transplant
Immunology and Ethnicity with Dr Nadia Terrazzini
There is a striking difference between ethnicities in the success rate of finding a suitable organ donor. After one year on the transplant list, 28% of people from minority ethnic groups as opposed to 41% people of white ethnicity, had been successfully matched and transplanted in 2019/20 in the UK (2020/21 data was affected by…Continue Reading Immunology and Ethnicity with Dr Nadia Terrazzini
Connors5 – 5 is Alive!
We had the huge pleasure of talking to Darran Saunders, Founder and Director of programmes of the charity Connors 5, about their brilliant outreach work and her personal experience of organ donation. The Saunders family set up The Connor Saunders Foundation as a legacy to their son and brother, Connor, who tragically died from an…Continue Reading Connors5 – 5 is Alive!
A Donor Research Champion’s Experience in Co-presenting with HCP Academics in an Education Event
What a fantastic way to start the academic year with a workshop involving the University of Brighton Year 2 Nursing Cohort! The afternoon began with a presentation of the key facts and processes to provide a solid foundation of all the intricate elements involved in organ donation. This led into a stimulating discussion about…Continue Reading A Donor Research Champion’s Experience in Co-presenting with HCP Academics in an Education Event
Freshers’ Fair 2022 at the University of Brighton
The Donor Research Team managed to attend both freshers’ fairs at the Eastbourne campus and at the Falmer campus in Brighton. Both freshers’ fairs bought in different groups of students. The Eastbourne campus is mainly comprised of healthcare students studying degrees such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy and midwifery. The fair at Falmer campus was a…Continue Reading Freshers’ Fair 2022 at the University of Brighton
The Role of Pharmacy in the Transplantation Pathway, an interview with Dr. Ravina Barrett.
When thinking of an organ transplantation procedure, what comes to mind? Is it a visceral image of blue-gowned surgeons huddled over a brightly lit operating table, performing impossibly complex and intricate surgery? You’re not wrong. But did you also know there is an extensive team of multidisciplinary healthcare professionals co-ordinating to ensure that any solid-organ,…Continue Reading The Role of Pharmacy in the Transplantation Pathway, an interview with Dr. Ravina Barrett.
The Need for More Blood Donors: Transfusions and Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle Cell disease is a genetic disease affecting the body’s red blood cells. The expected shape of a typical red blood cell is biconcave and carries oxygen around the body. In a person with sickle cell disease, the red blood cell has a sickled shape, substantially reducing the amount of oxygen held, diminishing the cell…Continue Reading The Need for More Blood Donors: Transfusions and Sickle Cell Disease
My Family of Donors
I became aware of blood donations as a child when my mother took me with her to donate her blood. I can’t say I remember the process then, but I remember the nurses were friendly and gave me biscuits. Growing up my family talked openly about being blood donors and how registering as a donor…Continue Reading My Family of Donors
We talk with Transplant Coordinator – Dr Agimol Pradeep
We interviewed Dr Agimol Pradeep who is currently working as a Transplant Coordinator at Kings College Hospital NHS Trust. However, it was during her nursing career that Dr Pradeep’s interest in organ donation was ignited, inspiring her to do a PhD on organ donation in the South Asian community. How would you describe your role…Continue Reading We talk with Transplant Coordinator – Dr Agimol Pradeep
We’ve made the news again!
BBC South-East broadcast on 13th July 2022 about our funding award from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and discussed the hot topic of organ donation with Anthony Clarkson, Director of Donation. The interview highlights the urgent shortfall between donors and recipients on the organ donation waiting list, particularly within certain ethnicities such as Black, Asian,…Continue Reading We’ve made the news again!