An extra £4m will be given to Anthony Nolan and NHS Blood and Transplant for NHS stem cell services in a bid to save up to 200 lives, Public Health Minister Anna Soubry announced today.
The money will increase the supply of stem cell donations available to patients needing a transplant. This takes the total investment since 2011 up to £12 million.
Collection of cord blood and stem cells is vital in the fight against leukaemia and other diseases such as lymphoma. The nutrient-rich cord blood is collected from the placenta and umbilical cord shortly after a baby has been born.
It is estimated that 400 patients each year miss out on treatment because of a lack of suitable stem cell donors.
The funding will mean that cord blood collection sites will continue to collect cord blood to increase the amount of suitable stem cells available. It will also be used to improve the current register of young adult donors, meaning patients will not have to wait as long for a transplant.
Stem cell transplantation is an important therapy for patients with leukaemia and other blood conditions. Stem cells that are collected, both from cord blood and bone marrow, are used in stem cell transplants to replace damaged cells in patients who are being treated for these conditions.
Public Health Minister Anna Soubry said:
“Patients with conditions like cancer and lymphoma are among the most vulnerable in the NHS so it’s crucial that we do everything we can to help them recover as quickly as possible.
“This further investment will help to save the lives of many more patients who need bone marrow transplants and I’m pleased that the NHS will continue to benefit from the experts at Anthony Nolan and NHS Blood and Transplant.”
Henny Braund, Chief Executive at Anthony Nolan, said:
“I’m delighted at the news of a further investment in these vital NHS stem cell services. It will give more mothers the opportunity to donate their cord blood and help the many patients across the UK who need a life-saving stem cell transplant.”
Lynda Hamlyn, Chief Executive at NHS Blood and Transplant, said:
"Cord blood collection and the NHS Cord Blood Bank exists to save lives. And it fulfils this vital function by offering new mothers the opportunity to help others. We have come a long way since cord blood transplants were introduced to the UK in 1996 and this latest funding is a further step forward in our ambition to save even more lives."