Chronic kidney disease affects millions of people worldwide, yet treatment options remain limited. Our research aims to grow mature, functional kidney tissue from stem cells by combining 3D bioprinting with microfluidic fluid flow mimicking the body’s natural environment. This could help create advanced engineered renal models and portable bioartificial kidneys, offering future alternatives to dialysis and transplantation.
reNEW research
We combine stem-cell biology, 3D bioprinting and microfluidic technology to engineer kidney tissue that better mimics the body. Human stem cells are bioprinted into linear kidney organoids, cultured first at an air-liquid interface and then transferred onto a custom microfluidic chip where they are exposed to controlled fluid flow. By studying how structure and flow shape development, we aim to build more functional renal tissue for future bioartificial kidneys.
Image description
This microscopy image shows a bioprinted, line kidney organoid cultured at an air-liquid interface for 14 days.
Credits
Dr. Beatrice Gabbin, postdoc, Little lab, reNEW Melbourne.
