One organ at a time

S tem cell research—and investment into it—has been largely inspired by the hope of using stem cells to regenerate, repair or replace damaged tissue or even whole organs. Stem cell-based therapies promise to eventually solve the problems associated with conventional organ transplantation: notably tissue rejection, a shortage of donors and the poor quality of donor organs. A much improved knowledge of the factors needed to coax stem cells to differentiate into specialized cells, in combination with advances in tissue engineering, has brought that promise closer to reality. Specific tissues and even whole organs generated from stem cells can now be grown in vitro and then transplanted into a patient to continue their development in vivo. Scientists have already successfully transplanted relatively simple laboratory-grown organs, such as the bladder and wind-pipe, and have for decades conducted now-standard skin and bone marrow transplantation. ...................................................... “Specific tissues and even whole organs generated from stem cells can now be grown in vitro and then transplanted into a patient to continue their development in vivo” ......................................................