Researchers at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center have developed little replacement livers. This could mean a huge break in the fight for engineered organs, which could potentially save thousands of individuals waiting for donors.
Although these little replacement livers are not ideal for patients yet, they will allow for testing the safety of new drugs, not to mention helping in the growth of human-sized livers.
Little Replacement Livers
The Institute for Regenerative Medicine Engineers Mini Organs
Trend Themes
1. Regenerative Medicine - The development of mini organs by the Institute for Regenerative Medicine presents an opportunity to further research and develop novel regenerative medicine applications.
2. Drug Discovery - The little replacement livers can be used for drug testing, indicating an opportunity to innovate and improve drug discovery processes with in vitro testing systems.
3. Organ Engineering - The mini livers created by the Institute for Regenerative Medicine is a significant breakthrough in organ engineering, and there is potential for further innovation in the field.
Industry Implications
1. Pharmaceuticals - The development of in vitro testing systems for drug discovery using mini livers presents an opportunity for the pharmaceutical industry to lower drug development costs and timeline.
2. Medical Devices - The creation of mini organs for testing purposes presents an opportunity for medical device companies to create new testing equipment and devices to advance regenerative medicine research.
3. Biotechnology - The significant breakthrough of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine in the creation of mini organs has created an opportunity for biotechnology companies to further develop organ engineering and regenerative medicine technologies.