Scientists in Minnesota are bioengineering pig livers in an effort to ease the national transplant shortage that sees over 100,000 people turned away each year. By “shampooing” away pig liver cells that make the organ function, scientists at the Minneapolis lab Miromatrix are left with a ghostly white, pliable structure that is ready to be transformed with human liver cells, according to the Associated Press. Pig livers are being bioengineered to act like a human liver, part of a research initiative to ease the nation’s transplant shortage by bioengineering replacement organs. If the dialysis-like “liver assist” is successful, researchers will begin to develop plans for a full-on bioengineered organ transplant, the AP reported. Over 105,000 people in the U.S. alone are on an organ transplant waiting list, many of whom die before they even get selected, the AP reported.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 17, 2023 23:50 UTC