The World’s First Artificial Blood Transfusions Are Coming Sooner than You Think

Scientists in the United Kingdom have just recently announced that they will begin conducting human trials on artificial blood grown from stem cells in a lab. These studies will begin within the next two years.

HOW DID THEY PIONEER THIS NEW PROCEDURE?

Scientists from the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and Bristol, as well as specialists from NHS Blood and Transplant have worked together to make synthetic or artificial blood a possibility. Researchers created the blood using stem cells taken from umbilical cords and from adult donors. The stem cells were cultured in a solution for three weeks before becoming red blood cells. The researchers reported that there was a 40-50 percent success rate in converting the stem cells into red blood cells. These trials are going to compare the performance of the manufactured cells with that of donated blood.

SYNTHETIC BLOOD?

Their intention is not to replace the blood that is received through donation, but to provide a specialized treatment for specific groups of patients. This will benefit patients who require frequent transfusions and people with rare blood types. The new development will also help revolutionize treatment for patients with blood conditions like sickle cell anemia.
In 2017, they are expecting to begin the first clinical trials in human volunteers. This research is in response to the number of people donating blood in the United Kingdom, which has dropped by 40 percent. Despite this drop in blood donors, the number of people in need of blood has increased. This new development is meant to counteract the problems surrounding donations and maintain the supply.

ARTIFICIAL MEDICINE IS NOT A NEW DEVELOPMENT

This is one of many developments in research under artificial medicine. There have been lab grown cells and organs for quite some time now. Scientists from all around the world have worked together in attempts to create artificial blood.

HOW WILL THEY TEST THE SYNTHETIC BLOOD?

The lab-manufactured cells will be transfused into a total of 20 volunteers who will receive between 5-10 milliliters of artificial blood. They will then compare the results of the transfusions with those from people receiving normal donations.


 

 

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