Accessibility links

Breaking News

Scientists Report Bioengineered Kidney Breakthrough


Scientists in the United States are reporting a breakthrough that could one day eliminate the need for kidney donations.

A report in the journal "Nature Medicine" published on April 14 said researchers have successfully produced a functioning kidney for laboratory rats using a process that could someday be used in humans.

The experiment began with a rat kidney, from which some cells were removed, leaving only the organ's structural framework behind.

Scientists then attached kidney cells from newborn rats and blood-vessel cells from humans to the framework and eventually cultivated a functioning bioengineered kidney.

The new organ was successfully transplanted into rats and began functioning nearly as well as a normal kidney.

Researchers now plan to attempt the experiment on pigs as an intermediary step to research on humans.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and BBC

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG