a ‘historic’ step that could someday transform transplant medicine
It’s the first time scientists have shown it’s possible to successfully and repeatedly transplant a life-sustaining mammalian organ after it has been rewarmed from this icy metabolic arrest. Outside experts unequivocally called the results a seminal milestone for the field of organ preservation.
“It’s historic,” said Mehmet Toner, a biomedical engineer at Massachusetts General Hospital and a Harvard Medical School professor working in organ cryopreservation. “This is the beginning of a very exciting journey.”
A rat kidney being prepared for transplantation as part of research by the University of Minnesota on a new technique for long-term organ cryopreservation. (Image: Caroline Yang for STAT)