Frequently Asked Questions

Here you will find clear answers to frequently asked questions about donating, medical conditions and how you can help save lives. For new and experienced donors and for anyone who wants to know more about our work. Is your question not listed? Check our Dutch page or feel free to contact us.

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Can everyone donate to Sanquin Research Fund?

Blood donors and companies often ask whether they can also contribute to Sanquin’s mission in a different way. With Sanquin Research Fund we ​​can provide this and bind even more people to us. Sanquin Research Fund recruitment activities are primarily aimed at companies, but any donation – no matter how small or large – are more than welcome!

How can a person get Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease?

There are two main forms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), each with a different cause.

Classic CJD

Classic CJD can be contracted in several ways. Most commonly, it occurs spontaneously. It can also run in families, meaning it may be inherited. In rare cases, transmission has occurred through transplants of brain membranes or corneas. Another historic route of transmission was treatment with human growth hormone extracted from brain tissue. The use of such growth hormones has since been discontinued in the Netherlands.

Variant CJD

Variant CJD can be acquired by eating meat from cattle infected with BSE ("mad cow disease"). This was particularly relevant during the BSE outbreak among cows in the United Kingdom in the 1990s.

It is likely that the proteins causing CJD can also be transmitted via blood or plasma. This means that both classic and variant forms of CJD could potentially be transmitted through transfusions, transplants, or the use of contaminated medical instruments.

CJD is extremely rare, so the chance of contracting the disease is exceedingly low.

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How can I donate as a company?

We desperately need the support of the business community for our research. Sanquin Research Fund collaborates with companies in several ways. Would you like more information about what we can do for your company? Please contact us.

How can I leave money to Sanquin after my passing?

With a will, you can decide how your assets and possessions will be distributed after you are no longer here. For example, you can designate your grandchildren, friends, or charitable organizations as legatees or heirs. Would you like to leave a bequest to Sanquin? This is possible through the Sanquin Research Fund. The gift from your estate will support life-saving research conducted by more than 200 researchers in our own laboratory. The details you need for the notary are as follows: Sanquin Research Fund, Plesmanlaan 125, 1066 CX Amsterdam, IBAN: NL80 ABNA 0107132419, RSIN number: 863283056, KVK number: 84616865.

Would you prefer to learn more first? Feel free to contact contact@sanquinresearchfund.nl

I would like to make a large donation. Can I talk about my wishes with someone in advance?

That would be fantastic! We can imagine that you would like personal contact before making a large donation on behalf of yourself or perhaps on behalf of a foundation or equity fund. You can contact one of our relationship managers for this. Together we will look at which form of donation suits you best.

What happens to the contact details I provided to the Sanquin Research Fund?

The information you have entered will be processed by payment service Mollie. Mollie processes your personal data because you use the services of Mollie and/or because you provide your personal data directly to Mollie. More information can be found in Mollie’s privacy statement: https://www.mollie.com/en/privacy

What is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease?

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) is a rare, incurable neurodegenerative disorder. Initial symptoms often include memory impairment and muscle stiffness, which develop insidiously and progressively worsen over time. In more advanced stages, patients may experience behavioral changes, dementia, and in some cases, loss of vision and speech. Motor disturbances become increasingly pronounced, characterized by involuntary, jerky movements. Ultimately, individuals become entirely dependent on care and succumb to the disease.

CJD is caused by a misfolded form of a naturally occurring protein. The incidence is approximately one case per million people per year.

In 1996, it was discovered that the protein responsible for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease, can be transmitted to humans. Due to the clinical and pathological similarities with CJD, this human form was termed variant CJD (vCJD). Since then, the original form has been referred to as classical CJD.

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What is the money from donations spent on?

The Sanquin Research Fund is open to all Sanquin researchers with a good idea. An independent scientific council assesses all research proposals and monitors the progress of the research and transparent accountability of the funds spent.

What is the Sanquin Research Fund?

The Sanquin Reasearch Fund is an independent ANBI fund that, together with companies and other partners, collects money for research in the field of blood-related disorders. It finances research that will lead to fewer people becoming ill, and as a result of which fewer people will be dependent on donated blood.

Who controls the Sanquin Research Fund?

Sanquin Research Fund has its own board, consisting of;
Coraline Panis – CFO Sanquin Blood Supply
Gerald de Haan – Director of Research, Sanquin Blood Supply
Daphne Thijssen – Director of Blood Bank, Sanquin Blood Supply

In accordance with the Articles of Association, the directors do not receive any remuneration.