Blood on the frontline

Securing lifesaving healthcare supply chains.

Blood saves lives, yet in warzones and humanitarian crises, it is one of the most fragile resources. With a shelf life of just three weeks and a reliance on cold‑chain logistics, blood supply chains are vulnerable to disruption, waste and geopolitical shocks. In deployed operations, up to 100% of flown‑in blood can be discarded unused, a heartbreaking waste and huge drain on resources.

Professor Wendy Phillips, CBL Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange Director UWE Bristol’s Innovation, Operations Management and Supply (IOMS) and Dr Helen Sanderson, IOMS member, are tackling this complex logistical challenge. Their collaborative research into redistributed manufacturing in healthcare is reframing how blood can be produced, stored and delivered closer to the point of need.

Close up of a microscope with a man in scrubs working in the background.

Building resilience in healthcare supply chains

The COVID‑19 pandemic exposed the fragility of global healthcare logistics. Conflicts such as Ukraine have further demonstrated that centralised supply hubs are easily targeted and too slow to respond. Blood distribution in crisis situations epitomises this vulnerability: long supply chains, high wastage and ethical dilemmas when donated blood is discarded.

Research undertaken by Professor Phillips and Dr Sanderson as part of the EPSRC‑funded Redistributed Manufacturing in Healthcare Network (RiHN) has shown that decentralised, agile production is not only possible but essential. By moving manufacturing closer to patients and frontline medics, healthcare systems can reduce waste, cut air miles and deliver lifesaving products when and where they are needed most.

From evidence to action: shaping policy and investment

Working with organisations such as Dstl, Defence Medical Services and NHSBT, this research has already had a direct impact on strategic investment to strengthen blood supply chains and build resilience to meet future challenges. It has also influenced national policy and enhanced international preparedness for the decentralised manufacture and distribution of critical healthcare products, including blood, in the following ways:

Regulatory innovation: the ESPRC RiHN research, led by UWE Bristol helped shape the MHRA’s Point of Care regulatory framework, the first of its kind in Europe, enabling decentralised production of critical healthcare products.
Securing investment: Working with the Ministry of Defence and Dstl, the team helped build the business case to unlock funding for blood technologies.
Global relevance: By addressing sovereignty issues and fragile supply chains, the research strengthens resilience not only for the UK but for healthcare organisations worldwide.

Sustainability and social impact

Blood distribution is not just a logistical challenge; it is also a sustainability issue. Flying blood across continents consumes resources, generates waste and undermines morale when supplies are discarded unused. By exploring alternatives to conventional blood products and developing technologies to extend shelf life and reduce reliance on cold chain, UWE Bristol’s research is helping to reduce waste and environmental impact.

Producing what is needed, when it is needed, and where it is needed, minimises waste and maximises impact. It also empowers communities, from soldiers in the field to humanitarian medics, to act with confidence, knowing lifesaving supplies are within reach.

The future for blood distribution

From classrooms to warzones and from laboratories to policy rooms, UWE Bristol is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Our research into blood distribution is redefining how lifesaving supplies reach the people who need them most. By challenging assumptions, informing regulation and driving new investment, this collaborative work is far more than an academic pursuit – it has the power to transform emergency response and save lives.