Scientists have successfully grown embryo-like structures that produced human blood cells, marking a significant advance for regenerative medicine and future blood therapies.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge’s Gurdon Institute created the models from human stem cells — without using eggs or sperm — to study how blood and heart cells form in the earliest stages of development.
“It was an exciting moment when the blood-red colour appeared in the dish – it was visible even to the naked eye,” said Dr Jitesh Neupane, the study’s lead author.
The discovery could one day allow doctors to grow compatible blood cells or bone marrow for patients using their own cells, avoiding immune rejection. Unlike other lab techniques, this method relies on the stem cells’ natural ability to self-organise, mimicking how tissues form in an embryo.
By day eight, the model developed beating heart-like cells, and by day 13, red patches of blood appeared. These lab-grown blood stem cells could then form various cell types, including red and white blood cells.
Although the model lacks the capacity to form a full embryo — as it does not include tissues for the placenta or brain — researchers say the findings could help unlock new treatments for blood disorders such as leukaemia and improve understanding of early human development.
“This marks a significant step towards future regenerative therapies that use a patient’s own cells to repair and regenerate damaged tissues,” said Prof Azim Surani, senior author of the study.
