Scientists create first human-cell bone marrow model in lab

Researchers at Switzerland’s University of Basel and University Hospital Basel have engineered the first realistic human bone marrow model entirely from human cells. This bioengineered tissue replicates the complex structure and cellular diversity of the bone marrow’s endosteal niche—a critical microenvironment near the bone surface responsible for blood cell formation and implicated in blood cancer resistance. Using a hydroxyapatite-based artificial bone scaffold seeded with pluripotent stem cells reprogrammed to generate specialized bone marrow cells, the team created a three-dimensional construct (8 mm diameter, 4 mm thickness) that sustained human blood formation in vitro for several weeks. This breakthrough model addresses limitations of current research methods that rely on animal models or oversimplified cultures, providing a more accurate platform to study human blood biology and diseases. It offers potential to reduce animal use in research and improve drug testing, although the current model’s size may require miniaturization for high-throughput screening. Looking ahead, the researchers envision personalized bone marrow models derived from patients’