Study of human cord blood
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Study of human cord blood for improving blood cancer treatment
IRAS ID
249223
Contact name
Rhys Morgan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sussex
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
The aim of the project is to increase understanding of the role of cancer−associated abnormalities in the disruption of normal blood cell development. This information will be used to help devise treatment strategies designed to antagonise their effects. As a source of normal blood cell progenitors, we will make use of neonatal cord blood. This material is normally discarded together with other after−birth tissue and so can be obtained without any intervention to patient care.
We hope to identify new ways of treating blood cancer by targeting the disease−causing changes that arise in these conditions. A vital part of this work is to understand how normal blood cells grow and develop and the effect disease−causing changes can have. This is where cord blood cells are useful. By studying these cells in the laboratory we can learn a lot about how diseases such as leukaemia arise and so how they might be better treated.
Blood cancers are a group of diseases that affect young and old alike. Though chemotherapeutic drugs can be successfully used to treat these conditions, they have long−term side effects in the young and many elderly patients are unable to tolerate such aggressive treatment. Furthermore, patients may relapse with their disease many years after treatment. We hope to identify new and robust ways of treating these diseases by targeting the cancer−associated changes that arise in these malignancies.
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/EE/0403
Date of REC Opinion
9 Jan 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion