Scottish bid to manufacture transfusion blood

Four Scottish universities are working on a "ground-breaking" project to manufacture blood for transfusions.

The universities are working with the Scottish Blood Transfusion Service to generate red blood cells on a large scale for Scotland.

Scientists have said that the industrial generation of blood from stem cells would end current supply problems.

It would also ensure compatibility between donor and recipient.

The University of Glasgow, along with Heriot-Watt, Edinburgh and Dundee universities are working on the project, which has just been given £2.5m from the Scottish Funding Council.