Adjunct Associate Professor Rosemary Sparrow is a research scientist with over 30 years post-doctoral experience in blood-related research, immunology and haematology, particularly transfusion biology and blood component research. She has diverse experience having worked in academic, hospital and highly-regulated industry environments.

Rosemary is affiliated to the Transfusion Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, and Senior Research Fellow for the Australian and New Zealand Massive Transfusion Registry. She is also the Principal Consultant for Transfusion Science.

Prior to joining the Transfusion Research Unit at Monash University in 2016, Rosemary was for 20 years the scientist-manager of the Melbourne R&D laboratory of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service (1993-2014).

Rosemary has designed and led major programs of internationally-competitive laboratory-based research focused on blood components, particularly red blood cells, aimed at improving blood component quality, safety and efficacy. Her application of immunological and emerging technologies, and novel in vitro models of transfusion pioneered new understanding and thinking about the intersects between blood donor and blood component variables and transfusion outcomes.

In recognition of her research achievements, Rosemary was invited to join the internationally-respected Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST) Collaborative in 2006, being the first Australian to become an invited scientific member. In 2018, Rosemary was awarded Honorary (life-time) membership of the BEST Collaborative, the first Australian to receive this award.

Rosemary is the author of >85 scientific papers in international peer-reviewed publications.