Blood is vital to life and 30% of us will need a blood transfusion at some point in our life but according to the Australian Red Cross, only 3% of us give blood. This is a serious problem but it might not be for too much longer thanks to scientists who have figured out how to grow human blood cells.
Prof Turner has devised a technique to culture red blood cells from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells – cells that have been taken from humans and ‘rewound’ into stem cells. Biochemical conditions similar to those in the human body are then recreated to induce the iPS cells to mature into red blood cells – of the rare universal blood type O. “Although similar research has been conducted elsewhere, this is the first time anybody has manufactured blood to the appropriate quality and safety standards for transfusion into a human being,” said Prof Turner.
There are plans in place for the trial to be concluded by late 2016 or early 2017, he said. It will most likely involve the treatment of three patients with Thalassemia, a blood disorder requiring regular transfusions. If this technique can be scaled up to a point of mass production we could have a limitless supply of manufactured type-O blood, free of disease and compatible with all patients.
Unfortunately, we are still 5 to 10 years away from this possibility so please consider donating blood as too few of us do and so many of us will need it.
Visit http://www.donateblood.com.au/ to donate today
Stay Curious – C.Costigan
