New funding announced for UK stem cell services

The Department of Health has allocated three million pounds in funding to further improve the provision of stem cells in the UK.

Supporting a partnership between NHS Blood and Transplant and blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan, the money will help patients with leukaemia and other life-threatening blood disorders, while increasing the number of young adult stem cell donors – in particular those from black, Asian and ethnic minority populations.

It takes the total amount of investment in this area to 19 million pounds since 2010.

Andrew Hadley, general manager of specialist services operations at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "It's great the Department of Health has decided to provide us with more funding to continue our work saving and improving lives through stem cell and cord blood donation."

More UK patients are now receiving a stem cell transplant than ever before. In 2013, 258 additional patients received a stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor compared to 2010, translating to an estimated 130 additional lives saved each year.