Israeli Sheba Hospital Grows Lab Kidneys Surviving 34 Weeks, Seeks China Funding

Sheba Medical Centre in Israel, in collaboration with Tel Aviv University, has achieved a significant breakthrough by successfully cultivating synthetic 3D kidney organoids that survived beyond 34 weeks, far surpassing previous attempts that lasted only up to four weeks. These kidney organoids enable researchers to model kidney diseases more effectively, improving understanding of disease mechanisms and allowing for timely interventions, while also reducing reliance on animal testing. Benjamin Dekel, director of Sheba's pediatric nephrology unit, expressed optimism that the molecules secreted by these organoids could help repair injured kidneys without the need for cell transplantation. Although the research marks a major milestone in regenerative medicine, translating these findings into clinical applications will require more time and study to identify the specific cells and biomolecules involved in kidney repair. The hospital is now seeking funding, including from China, to advance the research into clinical trials and move toward practical medical treatments. Dekel remains hopeful about the path forward, emphasizing the promising potential of organoid-secreted biomolecules for kidney regeneration.