Artificial blood project seeks financing on crowdfunding platform

The artificial blood project which is currently developed by a team of researchers from the Babeş-Bolyai University in Cluj is seeking financing via crowdfunding, according to Digi24.ro.

Romanian researcher Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu (in picture), Assoc. Prof. at the Babes-Bolyai University’s Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and his team, are working simultaneously on two projects that, if successful, will conclude a research chapter that has been fascinating scientists for decades: synthesizing blood. The artificial blood should work as a temporary solution and would be administered to patients in emergency situations. One of the projects Silaghi-Dumitrescu and his team are working on involves hemoglobin, while the other involves hemerythrin, a rare protein collected from sea worms that live on the beach. Read more about the project in an exclusive Business Review article.

The crowdfunding platform meant to raise funds for the project was launched three weeks ago, and the project has already attracted nearly RON 9,000 from donations, according to Digi24.ro.

So far, approximately RON 1 million was spent on the research between 2007 and 2010, and less between 2010 and 2013, “because we worked with remains from other projects and a lot of volunteering from students,” Silaghi previously told BR.

“I estimate that another RON 1 million will be necessary for lab tests on human cells and animals. Regarding the scaling up that will ensue, it is hard to put forward a figure. I have not made the calculations, but it will clearly be much more,” the researcher also told BR.

At the end of 2013, the Ministry of Education allocated RON 200,000 to artificial blood research. This March, during the Cluj Innovation Days, education minister Mihnea Costoiu announced that the ministry would earmark an additional RON 400,000 for 2014.

The artificial blood project is just one of five projects showcased on the crowdfunding platform, but the other four have received so far unsubstantial donations. Read a Business Review article about the success that crowdfunding platforms have in Romania.