Scientists have created lab-grown human embryo-like structures that successfully produced blood cells — a development that could revolutionize regenerative medicine and future treatments for blood disorders.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge’s Gurdon Institute used human stem cells to mimic the earliest stages of embryonic development, including the formation of beating heart cells and, eventually, visible red patches of blood. “It was an exciting moment when the blood-red colour appeared in the dish – it was visible even to the naked eye,” said lead author Dr Jitesh Neupane.
The study sheds new light on how blood naturally forms during human development and could pave the way for producing patient-specific blood stem cells for bone marrow transplants and treatments for diseases like leukaemia. Unlike previous approaches that require added proteins, the new method relies on self-organising stem cells that mimic natural developmental processes.
Although the model replicates some structures seen during the third and fourth weeks of pregnancy, it was designed without tissues that form the placenta or brain, ensuring it could not develop into a foetus.
“This is still in the early stages, but the ability to produce human blood cells in the lab marks a significant step towards future regenerative therapies,” said senior author Prof Azim Surani.
By day 13, the embryo-like models contained blood stem cells that could develop into both red and white blood cells — offering fresh hope for personalised medicine and a deeper understanding of human development.
