A team of researchers from Switzerland has created a model of a human bone marrow that produces blood cells, having potential in the study of blood diseases.

A revolutionary discovery in biomedicine has been made by researchers at the Department of Biomedicine and the University Hospital Basel, who have created a human bone marrow model capable of producing blood cells in the laboratory. This miniature "blood factory," made exclusively from human cells, faithfully reproduces the structure and function of bone marrow, providing a valuable platform for studying blood cancers and testing drugs, thus reducing the need for animal experiments.

The model was built on an artificial scaffold made of hydroxyapatite, which allowed for the introduction of reprogrammed human cells. These cells were guided to differentiate into specific cell types of the marrow, resulting in a structure that mimics the human endosteal niche. This achievement not only enhances the understanding of the hematopoiesis process but also opens up the possibility of developing personalized therapies for patients with hematological cancers.

The researchers emphasize the importance of this model in complementing data obtained from studies on mice, considering the differences between human and animal mechanisms. Although the model requires improvements for clinical use, it represents a significant step towards the development of functional human models that can accelerate research in biomedicine and personalized medicine.