Speaker
Description
Organ transplantation remains the only curative treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease, yet the chronic shortage of donor organs leaves thousands of patients without timely access to life-saving therapies. Approximately 25% of patients on the liver transplant waiting list either die or deteriorate beyond eligibility. To address this critical gap, the NEOLIVER project aims to develop a scalable, automated, and GMP-compliant platform for the generation of dense, functional, and perfusable bioprinted liver constructs as a potential alternative to organ donation.
Our project focuses on the integration of adult liver stem cell-derived organoids with supporting mesenchymal and endothelial progenitor cells to form multicellular spheroids that recapitulate the complexity of native liver tissue. These spheroids will be produced in large quantities using novel high-throughput microwell platforms and expanded under controlled, xenogeneic-free bioreactor conditions. To meet the clinical threshold of 10–20 billion cells for partial liver function restoration, we are optimizing protocols for mass expansion, differentiation, and cryopreservation that conform to GMP standards.
The spheroids will be encapsulated in synthetic, cell-degradable hydrogels and bioprinted onto a vascular bed using Laser-Induced Forward Transfer (LIFT) technology, enabling high-density deposition with micrometer precision. The printed constructs will include sacrificial microgels to support microvascularization and will undergo maturation in a perfusion bioreactor. In later stages, constructs will be surgically implanted and evaluated in a large immunodeficient pig model to assess perfusion, engraftment, and function.
By combining automation, precision bioprinting, and advanced cell manufacturing, NEOLIVER aims to establish the first modular production line for transplantable liver constructs. This platform has the potential to reduce dependence on donor organs and pave the way for personalized, cell-based therapies in liver disease. The outcomes of this project will also inform broader applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine across other organ systems.
85410435688
