Blood disorders often require stem cell transplantation, but producing functional blood stem cells in the laboratory remains challenging. Our research uses two human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) populations, labelled in different colours and fused into a single “fusion ball”, to study how cells interact and develop towards blood stem cells. This may help us better understand blood stem cell development and improve our ability to produce them in the laboratory for future patient treatments.
reNEW research
We generate embryoid bodies from two human iPSC populations, each labelled with a different colour, and fuse them at the earliest stage of development. Using live-cell imaging, we can follow each population over time. This dual-colour system allows us to investigate whether cells develop independently or are influenced by signals from neighbouring cells. By understanding these cell–cell interactions, we aim to identify conditions that more reliably support the generation of blood stem cells in the laboratory.
Image description
The image shows two human iPSC populations, labelled orange and blue, coming together to form a single embryoid fusion ball at day 1.
Credits
Dr Gulcan Sarila, Postdoctoral Researcher, Elefanty Lab, reNEW Melbourne.
