Cord blood

Project aim

Red blood cells derived from donated umbilical cord blood may offer a better transfusion option for preterm babies than the adult donor red blood cells currently used in clinical practice.

Babies born very prematurely often need at least one blood transfusion during their time in hospital. Currently, red blood cells from adult donor blood are transfused. However, these transfusions may be associated with complications of prematurity such as Retinopathy of Prematurity and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Red blood cells from umbilical cord blood contain mainly fetal haemoglobin and may be more suitable for these preterm babies than red blood cells from adult donor blood.

In this project NHS Blood and Transplant will develop an umbilical cord blood derived red blood cell product. The goal is to produce a validated product that is compliant with all relevant UK regulatory and quality standards.

This product needs to be produced in a way that would make it suitable for future use in a clinical trial and ultimately, for routine clinical use if proven safe and effective.