Scientists in bid to make blood given cash injection

Published on Tuesday 15 March 2011 18:38

SCOTTISH researchers conducting groundbreaking work to create a constant supply of blood for transfusions have been given a £2.5 million funding boost.

Four Scottish universities are working on the project to manufacture blood for hospitals, tackling shortages in supply.

The scientists have now been awarded 2.5m from the Scottish Funding Council to bring their work closer to fruition.

Glasgow University, along with Heriot-Watt, Edinburgh and Dundee universities, are working with Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) to generate red blood cells, inset, from stem cells.

Scientists say the industrial generation of blood from stem cells would end problems in maintaining the supply of blood for transfusion and ensuring compatibility between donor and recipient.

Joanne Mountford, of the SNBTS and Glasgow University, stressed that the blood they hoped to create was the same as normal blood, though created in a different way.

"This is not artificial blood. These are red blood cells - the same as those found in your body but made in a laboratory instead," she said.

"This funding will allow us to really start translating basic laboratory science into industrial processes."

Dr Mountford said one of the main challenges was how to create the large number of cells that would be needed for use in hospitals.

"Therefore we will need to develop new bio-process and engineering solutions alongside the biology," she said.

"Funding for such cross-disciplinary work is uncommon and we are delighted to receive this investment to truly integrate these approaches.

"The production of red blood cells for use in transfusions was initially started under a Wellcome Trust grant 18 months ago.

"This current funding is a second stage to address the issue of the larger-scale production and industrialisation of the process."

Research teams around the world are exploring different techniques to allow them to manufacture blood for use in medical treatments.

Blood transfusion services are often forced to appeal for people to donate as supplies start to fall.

During this winter's severe weather, donation sessions across the UK had to be cancelled, leading to calls for people to make extra efforts to donate.

It is this kind of problem that researchers hope to address by developing ways of generating their own supply of blood. Making blood in this way would also cut the risk of infections in the supply.

Dr Mountford added: "One of the reasons for shortages is not enough people donate. It would be great in the short term if more people donated blood while we worked on this alternative."The project, co-ordinated by the stem cell research team at Glasgow University, will include specialists in biochemistry, engineering and social science.

The funding, which is over five years, will support three posts at Glasgow, Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt universities and contribute towards two further posts at Dundee University and the Innogen Centre within Edinburgh University.

Mark Batho, chief executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said: "The Funding Council is delighted to provide funding for this groundbreaking project.

"This exciting collaboration aims to provide a solution to a long-standing problem and one that touches many lives."