Lab-grown Kidneys

A team of Japanese researchers has successfully produced functional lab-grown kidneys that worked in animals.

16:43 22 September 2015

A team of Japanese researchers has successfully transplanted lab-grown kidneys into pigs and rats, passing urine just like natural ones. Earlier prototypes were proven ineffective under pressure leading to urine getting out. This was fixed by growing extra plumbing for the kidney to stop the backlog.

 

This breakthrough can save thousands of people who require kidney transplant but can’t find a suitable donor. In the UK, more than 6,000 people are waiting for kidney but only 3,000 transplants are only carried out per year due to shortage of donors. 

 

Prof Chris Mason, an expert in stem cells and regenerative medicine at University College London, said: "This is an interesting step forward. The science looks strong and they have good data in animals.

 

"But that's not to say this will work in humans. We are still years off that. It's very much mechanistic. It moves us closer to understanding how the plumbing might work.

 

"At least with kidneys, we can dialyse patients for a while so there would be time to grow kidneys if that becomes possible.