Innovation & Research

Landmark Innovation Announcement! New Breakthroughs in Cryopreservation Poised to Transform Organ Transplantation

July 12, 2023

Bridging the Gap Between Innovation and Saving More Lives

LifeGift’s partnership with the Biostasis Research Institute is advancing the field of organ cryopreservation. This ongoing landmark research is poised to revolutionize organ preservation techniques with far-reaching implications for organ utilization. By extending the viability of donated organs through cryopreservation, LifeGift and the Biostasis Research Institute are at the forefront of efforts to save more lives.

The collaboration represents a significant milestone in the realm of organ cryopreservation. The research focuses on refining cryopreservation techniques such as vitrification and nanowarming to extend the preservation time of organs without compromising their functionality. This breakthrough has the potential to transform organ preservation, ensuring more organs remain viable for transplantation and thus significantly increasing organ availability.*

By extending the preservation time through cryopreservation, organs can be transported over greater distances, broadening the geographic reach and pool of potential recipients. This advancement is expected to enhance organ utilization rates, reduce waiting times and increase the chances of successful transplant procedures, ultimately saving more lives in the process.

Kevin Myer, LifeGift president & CEO, says, “This success in organ preservation is a landmark moment for efforts to expand organ and tissue allocation and sharing by enabling suspension of time for longer periods. LifeGift is proud to have provided early funding and support for this work as it was evolving. We are thrilled about its expanding impact now and into the future.”

The impact of long-term organ cryopreservation on organ preservation cannot be understated. By extending the lifespan of matchings, cryopreservation allows for better logistical planning, transportation and matching with suitable recipients. This breakthrough promises to increase the number of viable organs available for transplantation, leading to improved organ utilization rates and a more efficient allocation process. Consequently, more lives can be saved and the burden on organ transplant waiting lists can be alleviated.

This innovative research in organ cryopreservation holds tremendous promise for patients awaiting life-saving organ transplants. By pushing the boundaries of organ preservation, this innovative technique has the potential to reshape the landscape of transplantation, addressing the organ deficit and ultimately saving more lives.

To read more about this important research, please click here to view Forbes article.

Source: Nature