Fundamental hemophysics: collective effects from RBC aggregation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Fundamental hemophysics: collective effects from RBC aggregation
IRAS ID
353220
Contact name
Alexis Darras
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Red Blood Cells (RBCs) are essential for oxygen transport in the human body. Hematologists also know that RBCs can form aggregates, the smallest resembling stacks of coins. Under physiological conditions, the forces in blood flow break these aggregates, allowing RBCs to transport efficiently even in small vessels. However, recent studies have shown that these aggregates can span the entire container in blood samples at rest. These aggregates' properties influence standard lab tests like Sedimentation Rate, age separation in density gradients, and blood smear distribution.
This research project aims to explore the fundamental physics connecting single cell properties and the aggregation force between cell pairs to the aggregates' morphology and dynamics, which remain unquantified and unmodeled despite their importance in blood tests.
Conducted at the Physics Department at the University of Bristol, this study will mainly use anonymized residual human blood samples provided by the NHS Blood and Transplant biobank, requiring about 1 liter of blood annually. The RBCs and plasma will undergo physical characterizations and stimulations, including microfluidic and rheological examinations, sedimentation rate measurements, density gradient separation, and droplet evaporation. The project is planned as a three-year study, supported by the University of Bristol and the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Additional small samples for test runs at low hematocrits will be performed with diluted samples obtained from finger prick, after explicit consent and inclusivity check.
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EE/0132
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jun 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion