• Text size
  • Send this article to a friend
  • Print this article

Scots close to medicine’s Holy Grail ... a true blood substitute

An artificial substitute for human blood – the Holy Grail for A&E departments and battlefield surgeons – could soon be a reality, thanks to the pioneering work of Scottish laboratories.

Scientists are reporting that a three-year, multi-million pound Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service project is on course to reach its ambitious target of creating a limitless, long lasting, virus-free artificial blood supply.