Do Donor-Delivered Red Blood Cells Last Longer in a Circulation?

Cedric Gevart is working on a way to make red blood cells that last longer in circulation. He and his team are starting with 2 teaspoons of lab-produced, healthy volunteers. They will then put them through a series of tests before putting them into real patients. The advantage would be if you have cells that live longer, a patient who needs a blood donation wouldn't need their blood transfusion as frequently because what you're giving them would last longer.