German researchers to mass-produce blood stem cells in labs

Researchers from the Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (MHH) and the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) are launching a project to produce functional blood stem cells in a laboratory setting on a large scale. The federally funded initiative, named “smartiBONE,” is scheduled to begin in November 2026.

The project aims to address the shortage of genetically compatible donors for leukemia, severe immunodeficiencies, and certain autoimmune diseases. By using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), scientists intend to revert ordinary body cells to an embryonic-like state and then specifically develop them into blood stem cells. This process will utilize bone marrow-like organoids to facilitate mass production, potentially transforming treatment options for the approximately 14,000 people in Germany diagnosed with leukemia or blood-related diseases annually.