Scientists have successfully grown human embryo-like structures in the lab that produced blood cells — a major step toward developing regenerative therapies using a patient’s own cells.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge’s Gurdon Institute created the models from human stem cells, which can be derived from any cell in the body. The breakthrough could one day allow doctors to grow compatible blood for bone marrow transplants or treat blood disorders such as leukaemia.
“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, who led the study. The team observed that the structures self-organised into the three germ layers of early human development, and by day eight, beating heart cells appeared. By day 13, red patches of blood were visible.
The model replicates development seen around the third and fourth weeks of pregnancy but lacks tissues such as the placenta and yolk sac, meaning it cannot develop into a foetus.
Prof Azim Surani, senior author of the study, said the ability to mimic natural blood formation without added growth proteins marks “a significant step” toward future regenerative therapies.
The work not only deepens understanding of how blood forms in early human development but could also help model diseases and test new treatments safely in the lab.
