First UK stem cell donation centre launched

The UK's first dedicated stem cell collection centre for transplants has officially opened its doors and is now accepting donations.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has joined forces with the charity Anthony Nolan to launch the collection centre at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham. Situated within the NIHR Clinical Research Facility, the centre has already received its first donors and is set to create approximately 1300 new donation slots annually. Using specialist equipment, the centre collects stem cells from volunteers to support life-saving transplants for patients with blood cancers and other disorders across the UK, as well as medical research.

Professor Stephen Ryder, clinical director of research and innovation at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: 'We're delighted that the Anthony Nolan team has started working with our clinical team in Research and Innovation to launch its first stem cell collection centre... which is already changing lives.'

Stem cell transplantation, also called bone marrow transplantation, is a life-saving treatment and involves replacing diseased or damaged blood stem cells with healthy cells from a donor or from the patient's own body.

The donation process usually takes about five hours and, once collected, the stem cells are typically transplanted into the recipient within 72 hours. Donated stem cells are then infused through a central line, similarly to a blood transfusion. They settle into the bone marrow to regenerate healthy blood cells.

Nicola Alderson, chief operating officer at Anthony Nolan told the BBC the donation process is 'simple': 'You are put on a machine that has a needle in both arms. The blood goes through the machine, which takes out the stem cells and puts the rest of the blood back through.'

Anthony Nolan coordinates transplants for the NHS, and is involved in more than 1000 UK transplants each year and sends cells abroad to another 300 patients. However, the charity has faced challenges meeting clinical demand due to a global shortage of collection facilities. The Nottingham centre is designed to eliminate delays and ensure timely treatment.

'The Anthony Nolan Cell Collection Centre will help relieve the pressing capacity issues experienced in the NHS, and ensure patients receive their treatment when it is needed,' said Alderson.

Among the first donors was 26-year-old Brendon Craister from Telford, who said: 'I feel honoured to be one of the first donors at Anthony Nolan's new centre. A stem cell transplant could be lifesaving for someone, and donating your cells is such an easy way to help.'

The centre adds to Anthony Nolan's existing facilities in Nottingham. Its Cell Therapy Centre located on Nottingham Trent University's Clifton campus houses the charity's umbilical cord blood bank and a research facility exploring innovative uses of cord blood in treatment, supporting crucial medical research. One upcoming project will investigate stem cell therapies for liver disease.

'Not only will this new facility ensure patients can receive life-saving cells when they most need them, the Anthony Nolan Cell Collection Centre fits with our strategy to drive forward our programme of experimental research in Nottingham, which aims to both transform – and potentially save – many lives in years to come,' said Professor Ryder.