The unique UK project could deliver major economic benefits, ending current problems in maintaining supplies of blood for transfusion, managing the risk of infection and ensuring compatibility between donor and recipient.

The massive unmet and increasing clinical demand for blood in the UK alone needs 2.2m units of blood yearly at a cost of around £140/unit. It is estimated the UK market alone at worth up to £308m per annum and worldwide over £11.2bn (on an 80m units estimate).

Co-ordinated by Glasgow University, the multi-disciplinary collaboration will involve biochemistry, engineering and social science fields teams, supporting three key posts at Glasgow, Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt universities and contribute towards two further posts at Dundee University and Innogen Centre within Edinburgh University.

Joanne Mountford, of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and University of Glasgow, said: “This funding will allow us to really start translating basic laboratory science into industrial processes.

"One of the main challenges of this project is the very large number of cells that will be needed; therefore we will need to develop new bio-process and engineering solutions alongside the biology. Funding for such cross-disciplinary work is uncommon and we are delighted to receive this investment to truly integrate these approaches."