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Israeli Hospital Achieves Breakthrough in Lab-Grown Kidneys,Seeks funding for Clinical Trials
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Sheba Medical Center’s pioneering work in regenerative medicine offers hope for new treatments for kidney disease and a potential choice to customary organ transplantation.
Published: October 26, 2023
Tel Aviv, Israel – Sheba Medical Centre, in collaboration with Tel Aviv University, has announced a significant advancement in the field of regenerative medicine: the triumphant cultivation of functional kidney organoids in a laboratory setting. The breakthrough, led by Dr. Benjamin Dekel,director of Sheba’s paediatric nephrology unit and Stem Cell Research Institute,marks a pivotal moment in the quest to address the global shortage of donor organs and develop innovative therapies for kidney disease.
Beyond the Four-Week Barrier
For years,researchers have strived to grow complex 3D organ structures - organoids – that mimic the function of human organs. Previous attempts to cultivate kidney organoids had been limited by thier short lifespan, rarely surviving beyond four weeks. However, Dr. Dekel’s team has achieved a remarkable feat, successfully nurturing a synthetic kidney organoid for over 34 weeks. This extended viability is a crucial step towards creating functional tissues for research and, ultimately, therapeutic applications.
“This is a game-changer,” explains Dr. Dekel. “The ability to maintain thes organoids for an extended period allows us to study kidney advancement and disease progression in a way that was previously unfeasible.”
Modeling Disease and Revolutionizing Drug Testing
The potential applications of these kidney organoids are far-reaching. They provide a powerful platform for modeling kidney diseases, allowing researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms driving these conditions. This improved understanding can pave the way for the development of more targeted and effective interventions.
Moreover, the organoids offer a compelling alternative to traditional drug testing methods. Currently, many drugs are initially tested on animals, frequently enough mice, before being evaluated in humans. Kidney organoids,being derived from human cells,offer a more physiologically relevant model for assessing drug efficacy and toxicity. This coudl substantially reduce the reliance on animal testing and accelerate the drug development process.
Dr.dekel emphasizes that the therapeutic approach doesn’t rely on cell transplantation.Rather, the focus is on the molecules [the organoid] secretes
,” which possess regenerative properties capable of repairing damaged kidney tissue.
Seeking Investment for Clinical Trials
With the laboratory success firmly established, Dr.Dekel and his team are now focused on translating their findings into tangible medical treatments. To facilitate this transition, Sheba Medical Centre is actively seeking funding, including potential investment from China, to support the advancement of the research into clinical trials. These trials will be critical in evaluating the safety and efficacy of the organoid-derived biomolecules in human patients.
The Future of Regenerative Medicine
This breakthrough at Sheba Medical Centre underscores the rapidly evolving landscape of regenerative medicine. While challenges remain,the progress in organoid technology is offering unprecedented opportunities to address some of the most pressing healthcare challenges of our time. The development of lab-grown organs and tissues holds the promise of not only alleviating the organ shortage but also revolutionizing the way we treat disease.
Trends to Watch:
- Increased investment in organoid research globally.
- Advancements in bioprinting technologies for creating more complex organ structures.
- Growing ethical considerations surrounding the use of human-derived cells in research.
key Insights: The extended viability of sheba’s kidney organoids is a significant milestone, demonstrating the potential of this technology to overcome previous limitations. The focus on biomolecule secretion, rather than cell transplantation, represents a novel and potentially less invasive therapeutic approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a kidney organoid?
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