Welsh Blood Service Research
Strategic Priority 2 - the Trust will maximise the Research and Development ambitions of the Welsh Blood Service
6. Welsh Blood Service Research
In 2024, the Welsh Blood Service (WBS) finalised and endorsed a new Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) Strategy. Building on the successes of our first formal research strategy from 2017, this new framework has a clear focus on improving the lives of patients and donors across Wales. The new RD&I Strategy was developed after extensive consultation, shaped by feedback from colleagues during internal stakeholder workshops and an external survey across our research partners.
Respondents strongly endorsed our openness to collaboration and the quality of research efforts to date, but also highlighted areas for improvement, notably raising our visibility as a research-active organisation and ensuring wider access to opportunities.
The strategy can be found on the website.
The Strategy sets out seven ambitious missions, each aligning with the Welsh Blood Service’s 5-Year Strategy and Velindre University NHS Trust’s Destination 2033 plan. These missions range from advancing blood components and transplant research, to expanding our innovation portfolio and promoting international collaborations
The strategy outlines how the Welsh Blood Service will lead and provide resources for RD&I activities, ensuring Wales remains at the forefront of pioneering research and healthcare improvements. A key mission of the strategy is to improve patient and donor experiences, a goal that remains central to the organisation’s vision.
“The new strategy focuses on embedding research and innovation in all the activities of the Welsh Blood Service. By fostering world-class research and collaborating with patients, donors, staff in NHS organisations, international peers, academics and other key partners, we aim to represent Wales on a global stage in the field of transfusion and transplantation. This will help realise the intended goal of improving the care of patients and donors.
I am proud to lead the Welsh Blood Service in delivering this ambitious strategy."
Dr Edwin Massey, Medical Director
6.1 Key highlights of the new strategy
The strategy is structured around seven key missions, each designed to support the organisation’s objectives and ensure a focused approach to RD&I activities.
Patient and Donor Focus: Research will centre on improving outcomes for both patients and donors, ensuring their voices are embedded throughout all stages.
Scientific Excellence: Leveraging facilities like the Component Development and Research Laboratory, WBS will drive forward innovation such as the development of cold-stored platelets and support transplant in patients with challenging antibody profiles.
Expanding Collaborative Networks: We will strengthen ties with academia, the military, and other health organisations, seeking both national and international partnerships.
Innovation Integration: We will work alongside Velindre’s Innovation and Value-Based Healthcare teams to foster digital health initiatives and operational efficiencies.
7. Serving the people of Wales
Our collaborations continue to expand across national and international boundaries. The map highlights our collaboration in RD&I projects in the UK and beyond in this period. These efforts reflect a maturing research culture with global reach, aligned with the missions of our new RD&I Strategy.
8. News and achievements
We’ve had plenty to celebrate this year some of which have been featured as News on the Welsh Blood Service's website.
To read the full articles accompanying these headlines, please visit 'Our Latest News' on the Research section of the WBS website:
9. Welsh Blood Service Research Performance Indicators
9.1 Open projects portfolio
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Project Name |
WBS Project ID |
Strategic Mission Link |
WBS PI |
Level of Involvement |
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The use of legislation and regulation as a means of improving quality in public healthcare services |
164 |
Innovation |
Peter Richardson |
WBS led RD&I |
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Human Platelet Lysate Scientific Insight |
165 |
Innovation |
Michael Cahillane |
WBS led RD&I |
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Improving Platelet Storage |
168 |
Transfusion |
Christine Saunders |
WBS led RD&I |
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Understanding and Investigating White Particulate Matter |
175 |
Transfusion |
Michael Cahillane |
WBS led RD&I |
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Methodology Evaluation for Measuring Regulatory Cells in Kidney Transplant Recipients |
178 |
Transplant |
Deborah Pritchard |
WBS led RD&I |
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Novel Cryoprotectants for Advancing Long-term Red Blood Cell and Platelet Storage |
192 |
Transfusion |
Chloe George |
WBS led RD&I |
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Phase 0 Evaluation of non-DEHP Red Cell Storage Packs |
194 |
Transfusion |
Chloe George |
WBS led RD&I |
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Comparison of haemolysis measurement of red cell components at the end of shelf life using a Spectrophotometric method and a Point of Care Test device HemoCue |
196 |
Transfusion |
Michelle Evans |
WBS led RD&I |
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Real-World Evaluation of Cytokine Dynamics using a Novel Flow Cytometry Assay |
197 |
Transplantation |
Katie Whittle |
WBS led RD&I |
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Evaluation of Albumin as a Cryoprotectant for the Long-term Storage of RBC Units |
199 |
Transfusion |
Chloe George |
WBS led RD&I |
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Development of an effective cryopreservation for long-term preservation of rare red cells |
200 |
Transfusion |
Chloe George |
WBS led RD&I |
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Validation of the Werfen Neo Iris Automated Analyser for Red Cell Antibody Identification |
201 |
Transfusion |
Lee Wong |
WBS led RD&I |
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Human Platelet Lysate: Human Perspectives |
203 |
Transfusion |
Michael Cahillane |
WBS led RD&I |
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An Investigation into the Haemolysis Stability of Three High Titre Buffy Coat Pooled Platelets for Transfusion Compatibility |
204 |
Transfusion |
Lauren Payne |
WBS led RD&I |
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Impact of cold temperature storage on bacterial growth in cold stored platelets |
205 |
Transfusion |
Nicola Pearce |
WBS led RD&I |
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Investigation of Platelet Receptor Expression on Cold Stored Buffy Coat Derived Platelet Concentrates |
210 |
Transfusion |
Chloe George |
WBS led RD&I |
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Investigation of Platelet Function by Microfluidics on 21-Day Cold Stored Buffy Coat Derived Platelet Concentrates |
211 |
Transfusion |
Chloe George |
WBS led RD&I |
9.2 The support of the Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST) Collaborative
|
Project Name |
WBS Project ID |
Mission Link |
|
BEST-C 183 |
193 |
Transfusion |
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BEST-C 187 |
196 |
Transfusion |
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BEST-C 171 |
186 |
Transfusion |
9.3 Key performance indicators of the Welsh Blood Service RD&I Strategy
These metrics reflect the implementation of the new RD&I strategy. These KPIs are integrated into the organisation's reporting framework for planning and performance. For Apr to Sep 2024 performance, please refer to previous reporting of the former KPIs, as we have now ceased reporting for these obsolete metrics. The KPIs for February 2025 were not measured.
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✔ |
KPI On track |
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KPI requires attention |
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A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
J |
F |
M |
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Mission 1 – Improving Patient and Donor Care |
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Number of WBS Led RD&I Projects |
Sustain at least 10 open |
See previous RD&I KPIs |
⚠ |
⚠ |
✔ |
✔ |
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✔ |
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Number of researchers |
Sustain at least 10 annually |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
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✔ |
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Percentage of WBS Departments involved in RD&I Projects |
Ensure at least 80% of departments participate in RD&I activities previous year to date |
⚠ |
⚠ |
⚠ |
✔ |
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✔ |
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Mission 2 – Advancing Blood Components |
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Number of Transfusion Research Projects Initiated |
Sustain at least 4 open |
See previous RD&I KPIs |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
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✔ |
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Mission 3 – Leading Transplant Research in Wales |
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Number of Transplant Research Projects Initiated |
Sustain at least 2 open |
See previous RD&I KPIs |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
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✔ |
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Mission 4 - Use Innovation and Value Based Healthcare to Improve our Services and Performance |
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Number of innovation Projects Successfully Implemented |
Implement at least 5 new projects in the previous year to date |
See previous RD&I KPIs |
⚠ |
⚠ |
⚠ |
⚠ |
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⚠ |
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Mission 5 – Use Collaboration to Sustain our RD&I |
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Number of Collaborative Partnerships in RD&I |
At least 8 projects per year that involve external party / collaborator (projects either ongoing or successfully completed) |
See previous RD&I KPIs |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
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✔ |
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Mission 6 – Serve the People of Wales by supporting international initiatives |
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Number of international projects participated in |
Participate in at least 5 international projects each year |
See previous RD&I KPIs |
⚠ |
✔ |
⚠ |
✔ |
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⚠ |
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Mission 7 – Enhance the Impact of RD&I and Celebrate Success |
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Number of research papers published |
Publish at least 10 papers |
See previous RD&I KPIs |
✔ |
✔ |
⚠ |
⚠ |
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✔ |
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The PI must describe a suitable dissemination / knowledge transfer activity |
100% WBS Led projects must demonstrate how they achieved some type of dissemination activity |
⚠ |
⚠ |
⚠ |
⚠ |
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⚠ |
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Number of presentations at conferences (the WBS PMF KPI) |
Present at 5 Conferences per year |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
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✔ |
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9.4 RD&I KPI narrative
Number of Innovation Projects Successfully Implemented: No innovation projects have been implemented in the current reporting period, against a target of five per 12 months. One qualifying project is ongoing, while two supported projects concluded in Q2. Discussions at the WBS RD&I Group are ongoing to address this KPI.
Number of International Projects Participated In: Our number of international projects has fallen to 2 in April 2025, 3 in May 2025.We have a target of 5 project per year.
Principal Investigators must describe a suitable dissemination / knowledge transfer activity. Principal Investigators (PIs) are required to undertake a knowledge transfer activity within six months of completing their project. This may include conference presentations, publications, or service improvement initiatives. This is a high-priority metric where 100% compliance is expected. Therefore, a single PI failing to meet this requirement would cause the KPI to be rated amber. The PIs involved in the two remaining projects have been encouraged to accelerate their dissemination efforts to ensure they meet the requirement promptly.