Scientists at the University of Cambridge’s Gurdon Institute have successfully grown embryo-like structures in the lab that produced human blood cells — a major step forward for regenerative medicine.
The research team, led by Prof Azim Surani and Dr Jitesh Neupane, used stem cells to recreate early stages of human development without the need for sperm or eggs. The models mimicked the third and fourth week of pregnancy, producing beating heart cells by day eight and visible red patches of blood by day 13.
“It was an exciting moment when the blood-red colour appeared in the dish – it was visible even to the naked eye,” said Neupane. “This sheds light on how blood cells naturally form during human embryogenesis and offers new potential for studying blood and immune disorders like leukaemia.”
Crucially, the stem cells used can be derived from a patient’s own body, meaning future therapies could generate compatible blood for transplants without the risk of rejection.
Unlike other lab-based techniques, the new approach did not rely on added proteins but instead mimicked natural development, allowing the structures to self-organise into key germ layers that later form tissues and organs.
Surani said the work marked a “significant step” toward future treatments that use a patient’s own cells to repair or replace damaged tissues, though he noted the research remains in its early stages.
