In our lab, the donated and tested blood is combined with different substances that cause a reaction in the blood cells, and then something amazing happens. This reaction results in the blood cells transforming into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). An iPSC is a type of cell that looks and behaves like the stem cells found in an early developing embryo. Therefore, like a normal embryonic stem cell, they can multiply and in theory they can grow to become any cell in the human body. By having a stock of iPSCs in the lab, it becomes possible to study the development of iPSCs to regular blood cells. Through this, it also becomes possible to study the development of the anemias and try out different treatment methods on a genomic level, without having to worry about harming a patient.
