14 DAY TRIAL // We won't be seeing any 3D printed organs in the near future, but tissue is another matter entirely, and Organovo is among the 3D bioprinting experts advanced enough to provide them when asked by scientists for experimental samples.
One of the latest turns of events was when the San Diego, California-based company got a commission, of sorts, from the University of Queensland, Australia.
The scientists there wanted to test Organovo's 3D printed kidney tissue, aiming to use it for disease research and maybe improve on it enough to make it viable for when 3D printed transplantable organs finally become reality, however many years in the future that will be.
Professor Melissa Little and her team have already made leaps in stem cell research, by growing a tiny kidney in a laboratory dish. With Organovo's help, they could optimize the cells and print kidney tissues sooner.
And it's not just for the sake of science. One in three Australians risk chronic kidney disease, so their activities can eventually help heal them.
Sure, we won't be seeing actual kidneys for a while, but drug companies will be able to test their drugs on the tissue itself fairly soon.
The Queensland government has provided Professor Little with $1 million / €0.73 million in funding to further her ideas.