"Universal donor" from stem cells

British scientists are launching a project to create universal donor blood from stem cells. As experts hope, the first transfusion can be carried out in three years, The Independent newspaper writes.

The expensive project will involve the National Health System, the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and the Wellcome Trust, the largest charitable foundation to support medical research. According to the publication, the official announcement of the project will appear in the coming week.

To obtain "synthetic" blood, it is planned to use embryonic stem cells capable of giving blood of a universal group suitable for transfusion to any person. Only 7% of donors have such blood, but in the laboratory it can be obtained from stem cells as much as you want – such cells can divide without restrictions. Theoretically, one embryo can provide blood to the whole country.

The advantages of the project are obvious. Such blood will be easily available, it will help to save many lives: for example, in a war, where supplies of ordinary donor blood are quickly running out. In addition, the blood obtained in the bioreactor will be safe during transfusion – it will not be possible to get infected with any virus through it.

Similar projects exist outside the UK – in Sweden, France and Australia. Last year, employees of the American company Advanced Cell Technology announced that they had managed to obtain billions of functioning red blood cells from stem cells.

American research, however, has stalled due to funding problems: during the presidency of George W. Bush, the state was prohibited from allocating money to stem cell-related projects. In March, however, President Barack Obama lifted the ban.

Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru according to the materials NEWSru.com23.03.2009