Lab-grown red blood cells transfused into people in first trial -NHS
Lab-grown red blood cells transfused into people in first trial -NHS
Two people have been given the lab-grown
cells and have so far had no side effects.
By JERUSALEM
POST STAFF Published: NOVEMBER 7, 2022 14:26
Updated: NOVEMBER 7, 2022 15:19
Laboratory-grown red blood cells have been transfused
into people in the first such clinical trial in the world, the United Kingdoms
National Health Service announced on Sunday.
According
to the University of Bristol, which worked on the RESTORE research initiative
jointly with the NHS and the University of Cambridge, two people have been
given the lab-grown cells and have so far had no side effects.
"This
challenging and exciting trial is a huge stepping stone for manufacturing blood
from stem cells," wrote co-chief investigator Ashley Toye, professor of
Cell Biology at the University of Bristol. "This is the first-time
lab-grown blood from an allogeneic donor has been transfused and we are excited
to see how well the cells perform at the end of the clinical trial."
The red blood cells, manufactured using stem cells from
donors, could revolutionize blood transfusions. Treatment for people with blood
disorders that require regular blood transfusions, such as thalassemia or
sickle cell disease, and people with rare blood types would be able to grow
matching blood for transfusions. Manufactured cells could also last longer,
decreasing the pace of transfusions patients would need.
"Patients
who need regular or intermittent blood transfusions may result develop
antibodies against minor blood groups which makes it harder to find donor blood
which can be transfused without the risk of a potentially life-threatening
reaction," said Dr. Farrukh Shah, Medical Director of Transfusion for NHS
Blood and Transplant.
"This
world-leading research lays the groundwork for the manufacture of red blood
cells that can safely be used to transfuse people with disorders like sickle
cell. The need for normal blood donations to provide the vast majority of blood
will remain. But the potential for this work to benefit hard to transfuse
patients is very significant."
The idea
of using lab-grown blood cells is an
ambitious and disruptive innovation in the medical field, one that a
few companies are trying to make a reality.
Worldwide blood shortages have caused the deaths of millions
every year all over the world, as the global supply of blood for transfusions
hinges entirely on donations. Finding a way to have artificial and viable blood
for transfusions would change the entire medical field as we know it.
One
company trying to do this, for example, is the Israeli start-up RedC Biotech.
However, the RESTORE project is another step in this direction.
However,
at this time, the project is still in its trial phase and time is needed before
its effects are proven.
At the
time of writing, just two participants in the RESTORE project trials have been
administered these lab-grown blood cells, but more will follow.
"We
hope our lab-grown red blood cells will last longer than those that come from
blood donors," said the University of Cambridge's Prof. Cedric Ghevaert,
the project's co-chief investigator. "If our trial, the first such in the
world, is successful, it will mean that patients who currently require regular
long-term blood transfusions will need fewer transfusions in future, helping
transform their care."
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