Research in transfusion medicine within the Department of Haematology is embedded in the National Health Service Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) Centre on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

It was the first research and development unit dedicated to transfusion medicine within the NHS and is funded both from the NHSBT and external funding bodies.

The focus of transfusion medicine research is in blood borne viruses, diagnostics and transfusion in resource poor areas, biology and genomics of megakaryocytes and platelets.

Particular highlights include:

– A Genome-Wide Association Study meta-analysis which identified 15 genetic loci that regulate the volume and count of platelets and the discovery of novel genetic loci that regulate platelet function (Professor Willem H Ouwehand).

– A rapid low cost diagnostic test for Chlamydia trachomatis has been developed and is now widely available. A test for HBsAg is being submitted for licensing (Diagnostics Development Unit).

– Blood cell production from human pluripotent stem cells (Dr Cedric Gevaert).