This technology provides a method and system to restore non-viable human lungs to organs suitable for transplantation.
There is a worldwide shortage of suitable lung donors for transplantation and often, available lungs are damaged during the extraction procedure and end up being discarded. Effective methods to render damaged lungs into suitable organs for transplantation do not exist, and the current available procedures are costly, time consuming and sub-optimal, as they are unable to maintain and repair the organ architecture and function. There is a need for methods that effectively recover damaged lungs for use in transplantation.
This technology is a method for recovering rejected or low-quality donor lungs by removing and replacing damaged cells. Damaged cells are removed from compromised areas with a decellularization fluid and are then repopulated with the recipients’ pulmonary cells. This restoration process is completed while maintaining organ structure and function. Additionally, normothermic lung perfusion and ventilation promote functional recovery of the lung, resulting in the increased gas exchange efficiency, and reduced time and costs of the procedure. This technology provides a useful method to transform rejected or low-quality donor lungs into lungs viable for transplantation, offering the opportunity to reduce organ shortage.
This technology has been demonstrated in vitro and in a large animal model using human induced pluripotent stem cells.
IR CU13138
Licensing Contact: Beth Kauderer