The University of Maryland School of Medicine is at the forefront of this promising research into artificial blood. Once fully realized and implemented, this breakthrough concept holds the potential to revolutionize emergency medical care and save countless lives during time-sensitive, critical situations. Dr. Allan Doctor has taken that idea further and is leading groundbreaking clinical research today at the Center for Blood Oxygen Transport and Hemostasis (CBOT) in Baltimore. He’s currently hard at work creating a new, safer, effective blood substitute. This cutting edge solution meets growing worldwide need for blood products. It allows for long-term storage flexibility and easy transportation, particularly useful during rapid deployment needs in emergencies.
Dr. Doctor’s team has put their artificial blood through a rigorous gauntlet of tests. They killed hundreds of rabbits just to prove its safety and efficacy. This revolutionary product stays shelf-stable for months. Plus, it’s super easy to just reconstitute it with water, making it even more convenient for use in emergencies. The hope of the research team is to begin human trials in the next two years. It might pave the way for a revolutionary solution to treating hemorrhage, the leading cause of preventable deaths on the battlefield and in medical emergencies.
Advancements in Artificial Blood Research
Dr. Doctor’s innovative research is primarily centered on the development of an artificial blood substitute based on human red blood cells. His current efforts with KaloCyte, a company he co-founded, seeks to validate and further develop this blood substitute. What’s next The research team is currently working on a freeze-dried form of artificial blood. This natural and innovative solution makes it easy to transport and store without the need for refrigeration.
In a recent statement, Dr. Doctor underscored the potential impact of this innovation, saying, “It would change the way that we could take care of people who are bleeding outside of hospitals.” The capacity to have a steady blood alternative directly impacts patient survival and recovery while waiting for transfusion emergency response activations to handle the high demand. With explosive funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the project has deep support. Led by their project manager, Col. Jeremy Pamplin, it is poised to continue making leaps forward.
Dr. Doctor’s team includes a range of skilled technician, including her technician Danielle Waters. She has been pivotal to the infusion process in our animal trials. All of these efforts have produced promising outcomes. Dr. Doctor has seen first-hand the acute effects of the artificial blood on test subjects just after they’ve used it. He noted, “The really good sign is that he’s very pink,” referring to a rabbit that displayed healthy signs after receiving the infusion.
The Science Behind Artificial Blood
The heart of Dr. Doctor’s research is focused on hemoglobin purification, the key ingredient in developing bloodless blood substitutes. Ruby McAslan has been doing this work on the hemoglobin processing side—and more—at KaloCyte, where the hemoglobin gets packaged up for use in artificial blood, as shown above. Dr. Doctor explained the method involved: “We have to veil the hemoglobin inside a cell. It’s an artificial cell that makes it safe and effective.” This encapsulation is key for maximizing the potential of the artificial blood so that it will function most efficiently once infused into patients.
“With these key blood functions replicated the team has made strides in achieving full life-saving resuscitation possible, potentially saving lives in traumatic emergency settings.” “We’ve been able to successfully recapitulate all the functions of blood that are important for a resuscitation in a system that can be stored for years at ambient temperature,” Dr. Doctor remarked, highlighting the significant milestones achieved by his research team.
Looking Ahead: Clinical Trials and Future Implications
Looking toward the future, Dr. Doctor hopes to begin human testing within two years, a critical step in determining the viability of artificial blood as a standard treatment option in emergencies. Though implementation appears complicated, experts are cautiously optimistic on the technology’s potential. Tim Estep, a scientist at Chart Biotech Consulting, commented on the challenges ahead: “Because this field has been so challenging, the proof will be in the clinical trials.” He added, “While I’m overall optimistic, placing a bet on any one technology right now is difficult.”
As researchers develop artificial blood solutions, they are working against development from teams around the world. A Japanese consortium has started human testing on similar synthetic blood products. This new development increases the urgency of Dr. Doctor’s timeline for beginning his own human trials.
