Posted on 03/03/2025 9:09:34 AM PST by BenLurkin
Australia's most prolific blood and plasma donor, James Harrison, has died at age 88. Harrison is credited with saving the lives of 2.4 million babies over the course of more than half a century.
Harrison donated blood and plasma a whopping 1,173 times, according to Lifeblood, every two weeks between 1954 and 2018. All but 10 were from his right arm, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
He "never missed a single appointment," the agency said, and "expected nothing in return." Blood donors are not compensated financially under Australian law.
Harrison's plasma contained a rare and precious antibody called anti-D, which was discovered in the mid-1960s. It is used in medications to prevent haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) — also known as rhesus disease — a potentially fatal disease that occurs when a pregnant person's blood is incompatible with that of their unborn baby, prompting their immune system to attack it.
Australia has about 200 anti-D donors who help around 45,000 mothers and babies annually, according to Lifeblood.
But because the antibody is so rare, and there are so few human donors able to donate regularly, scientists are also trying to come up with a synthetic version.
Lifeblood is working with Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), Australia's oldest research institute, on a project they call "James in a Jar." It could see Harrison continue to save lives long after his death.
"Using the blood of James and other donors, the team has successfully recreated and grown his antibody in the lab — with the hope it will one day help prevent [HDFN], not just for pregnant women in Australia, but also worldwide," it says.
(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...
“Yes. That’s the kind of person who should be considered for a Nobel Peace Prize.Instead the award goes to grifting trash like Al Gore.”
Or Obama that did nothing spectacular other than being African.
Thank you.
Read about this guy some time back. Saved more lives probably than any other person ever.
Your effort was quite an achievement. Don’t sell yourself short.
Plasma can be donated far more than whole blood.
Good on you, RM.👍👍
Thank you.
Thank you.
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