The present invention relates generally to an ex vivo method of producing a population of cells and materials for use therewith. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an ex vivo method of generating the growth of a population of blood-derived cells and materials for use therewith. The method of the present invention facilitates cell growth by virtue of the migration of blood-derived cells from the vasculature of a vascularised receptacle to the acellular tissue support matrix of said receptacle. These findings have now facilitated the design of means for reliably and efficiently deriving cellular populations from blood-derived cells, such as the generation of bone marrow cells including haemopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells, for use in a wide variety of clinical and research settings. The method of the present invention is particularly useful for the therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of a range of conditions via the administration of the cells generated in accordance with the method of the present invention.
