Scientists Perform First Transfusions of Lab-Grown Blood

Category : Science and Tech Published on: November 14 2022

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Researchers have performed the first transfusions of red blood cells grown in a lab as part of a U.K.-based clinical trial to test how long these cells can live.
It is a one-of-a-kind clinical trial took place at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
Two patients in the RESTORE trial have been transfused with very small amounts between five and ten milliliters (ml) of the lab-grown RBCs. Both individuals appear to tolerate the transfusions well and have not reported any notable side effects.
The team grew blood from stem cells that they had separated out from donated blood.
When placed in a nutrient solution, the stem cells, which can mature into any kind of cell in the body, multiplied, and the researchers coaxed them to turn into red blood cells, per the BBC’s James Gallagher.
Red blood cells carry oxygen to tissues in the body, which use it to produce energy. But for people with conditions like sickle cell anemia, red blood cells don’t move easily through blood vessels and can block blood flow.
Blood transfusions help treat conditions such as this, and they can also be given to people who have lost a lot of blood.