Overview

• James Harrison, an Australian blood donor whose rare Anti-D antibodies were used to treat Rhesus disease, passed away on February 17 at age 88.
• Over six decades, Harrison donated blood 1,173 times, helping to save the lives of more than 2.4 million babies in Australia and beyond.
• His plasma was crucial in developing Anti-D injections, which prevent Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN) by protecting babies from their mothers' immune systems.
• Harrison began donating blood at 18 after receiving life-saving transfusions during surgery at age 14, despite his lifelong fear of needles.
• Researchers are now working on a synthetic version of the Anti-D antibody, nicknamed 'James in a Jar,' inspired by Harrison's contributions.