Researchers in the UK think this clinical experiment might considerably enhance therapy for people with blood diseases and uncommon blood types. This clinical trial involved transfusing lab-created blood into humans for the first time in history.
According to a BBC story, the initial step of the research involved giving two UK patients a few spoonfuls of lab-grown blood to examine how the body would respond and how the blood would function.
Ten healthy individuals will now participate in the test, giving blood for a few months. The goal of the research is to comprehend how long these blood cells live in comparison to the real red blood cells that are pumped into patients.
It was made clear by experts working on the project that they did not want to take the place of donations of human blood. They said that the majority of transfusions will always rely on unpaid blood donations from average people. They stated that the major objective of the experimentation was to create unusual blood types, which are often hard to find.
The research, according to Dr. Farrukh Shah, medical director of transfusion at NHS Blood and Transplant, is laying the groundwork for “the production of red blood cells that may be utilized to safely transfuse persons with illnesses like sickle cell.”
According to him, “the potential for this effort to aid hard-to-transfuse patients is really considerable.” he told the BBC.
Researchers in Bristol, Cambridge, and London collaborated with NHS Blood and Transplant to oversee the experiment.
The project made the best possible use of technology. The radioactive material, which is often utilized during medical operations, is attached to the fake blood. The blood can be tracked using this material, which enables researchers to determine how long the blood stays in the body.
The subsequent 10 participants will have two 5- to 10-ml infusions of lab-grown blood every four months to gauge the longevity of the cells.
The method of manufacturing blood, according to experts, will be significantly more expensive than ordinary blood donation due to technological and financial difficulties.
