There is a shortage of organ donors for potential recipients with organ failure. Historically, potential donors with risk factors for blood-borne viruses, such as injecting drug use, were declined for donation even if they tested negative, due to risk of window period infection. Our research synthesised Australian epidemiological data on the incidence and prevalence of blood-borne viruses among increased risk groups to estimate the residual risk of infection in those cases. This work has gone on to influence policy and practice in Australia, increasing the organ donor pool, and received multiple awards including the HSRAANZ Professor Margaret Kelaher Best PhD Paper Award in 2022. Researchers attending this talk can consider ways to leverage existing data to target knowledge gaps in clinical practice.