Ex vivo production of neutrophils

恶性感染经常发生在接受强化化疗的患者中。化疗对产生血细胞的骨髓是有毒的。白细胞计数低，特别是中性粒细胞计数低与这些患者的感染有关。与红细胞和血小板不同，中性粒细胞很难从献血者身上采集到，因此不能常规使用。在这个项目中，我们将开发一种实用的、成本效益高的方法，从脐带血中生产中性粒细胞。输注这些中性粒细胞可以减少患者遭受严重感染的机会，使他们能够更快地从化疗中恢复，并减少住院重症监护的需要。

Relentless infections frequently occur in patients receiving intensive chemotherapy treatment. Chemotherapy is toxic to the bone marrow where blood cells are produced. A low white blood cell count and in particular a low neutrophil count is linked with infection in these patients. Unlike red cells and platelets, neutrophils are difficult to collect from blood donors and hence are not routinely available. In this project, we will develop a practical, cost efficient process for the production of neutrophils from cord blood. Transfusion of these neutrophils should reduce the chance of patients suffering serious infection, allow them to recover faster from their chemotherapy, and reduce the need for admission to intensive care.