Blood donation, transfusion and immunomodulation
Group leader
Department of immunology and transfusion medicine is responsible for blood donated at the Oslo Blood bank, and is concerned with all aspects of donor health, recruitment, retention and selection of blood donors, optimal storage and quality of the red cell, platelet and plasma products. Therapeutic use of blood products (convalescence plasma, plasma and red blood cell exchange) is also a field of study. We have been studying immunomodulatory substances from edible medicinal mushrooms as add-on treatment in clinical trials to explore effects in patients with inflammatory conditions in airways, such as rhinoconjunctivitis and allergic asthma. We study effects of frequent plasmapheresis in donors and supply plasma from young donors to the ADDITION MCI study.
Aims/project plans:
- Health, recruitment, retention and selection of blood and plasma donors
- Response to covid-19 and covid-vaccination in blood and plasma donors
- Allergy and immunomodulatory effects of dietary supplements in blood donors, transfused and allergic patients.
- Plasma exchange to delay cognitive deterioration in early dementia
- Development and improvement of blood products for treatment of patients
- Heart to heart - blood donor communication and future blood donor registry research (BLODoNOR)