CALIFORNIA: Researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) have achieved a significant milestone in the quest to revolutionize kidney failure treatment. They have successfully demonstrated that kidney cells housed in an implantable device known as a bioreactor can survive within a pig’s body while mimicking several crucial kidney functions. This groundbreaking advancement could potentially liberate patients from the need for dialysis or immune-suppressing drugs following a kidney transplant.
The study, published in Nature Communications on August 29, 2023, marks a significant stride forward for “The Kidney Project.” This innovative endeavor is jointly led by UCSF’s Shuvo Roy, Ph.D. (Technical Director), and Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s William H. Fissell, M.D. (Medical Director).
The long-term goal of The Kidney Project is to populate the bioreactor with various kidney cells, each responsible for vital functions such as maintaining fluid balance and releasing hormones to regulate blood pressure. This bioreactor will then be paired with a device designed to filter waste from the blood.
Potential of The Kidney Project
This recent achievement underscores the potential of The Kidney Project as the team demonstrated that kidney cells within the bioreactor do not provoke an immune response in the recipient’s body, obviating the need for immune-suppressing medications. The bioreactor operates quietly, akin to a pacemaker, seamlessly integrating into the recipient’s body.
The research team closely monitored both the kidney cells and the recipient animals for seven days post-transplantation, and both demonstrated excellent outcomes. The next phase of the project will involve conducting month-long trials, as mandated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), initially in animals and eventually in humans.
Shuvo Roy, Ph.D., expressed his optimism, stating, “We needed to prove that a functional bioreactor will not require immunosuppressant drugs, and we did. We had no complications and can now iterate up, reaching for the whole panel of kidney functions at the human scale.”
The successful demonstration of kidney cells thriving within an implantable bioreactor brings new hope for patients suffering from kidney failure, potentially paving the way for a future where dialysis and immune-suppressing drugs may no longer be a necessity.
