Scientists at the University of Cambridge’s Gurdon Institute have created embryo-like structures that produced human blood cells in the lab — a major step toward future regenerative therapies.
The team grew the models from stem cells, without using eggs or sperm, allowing them to study the earliest stages of blood and heart 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 structures mimicked human embryos at about three to four weeks of development, forming key layers of tissue and even beating heart cells before producing blood stem cells by day 13. These stem cells were shown to develop into both red and white blood cells.
Unlike previous methods, which rely on added proteins, this approach allows cells to self-organise naturally — much like they do in an actual embryo. “Although it is still early, this is a significant step toward therapies that could use a patient’s own cells to repair or regenerate tissues,” said Prof Azim Surani, the senior author.
The models were deliberately designed to exclude placental and brain tissues, ensuring they could not develop into a viable embryo. Researchers say the work offers new potential for studying blood disorders, testing drugs, and advancing personalised medicine.
