Freezing and safely reheating donor kidneys for transplant
Organ banking for transplant--kidney cryopreservation by vitrification and novel nanowarming technology
This project is developing ways to freeze donated kidneys and then warm them safely so people who need transplants can receive more and better-matched organs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11358374 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, the team is working to turn donated kidneys into bankable organs by cooling them so fast they form a glass-like state instead of ice and then using a new nanowarming method to reheat them without damage. They use protective chemicals and advanced warming technologies tested in lab and preclinical organ models to prevent ice formation and cracking during thawing. The goal is to enable long-term storage of kidneys so timing and matching between donors and recipients is no longer constrained by distance or clock time. If successful, this could make transplants safer and increase the number of usable organs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with end-stage kidney disease who are on the transplant waiting list or otherwise eligible for a kidney transplant.
Not a fit: People with kidney disease who are not transplant candidates due to other medical reasons, or those needing treatments unrelated to transplantation, are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If it works, this could expand the supply of usable donor kidneys, improve donor–recipient matching, and reduce wait times and complications from poor organ preservation.
How similar studies have performed: Related laboratory and animal studies of vitrification and early nanowarming approaches have shown promise for small tissues and organs, but clinical use in human transplants remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Finger, Erik Brian — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Finger, Erik Brian
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.