Wake Forest and Rice University
A research consortium led by Wake Forest University and Rice University developing bioprinted, vascularized kidney tissues using patient-specific cells, aiming to eliminate the need for organ donation and immunosuppressive drugs.
- CEO / Founder
- Anthony Atala
- Team Size
- 201-500
- Stage
- Active
- Total Funding
- $0
Technology & Products
Key Products
Bioprinted kidney tissues; Vascularization technology for 3D-printed organs; Personalized organ development platform
Technological Advantage
VERIFIED: Advanced bioprinting methods for creating vascularized kidney tissues with patient-derived cells, leveraging academic research and ARPA-H backing. DEFENSIBLE through potential patents and trade secrets in cell sourcing and printing processes.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Enables personalized organ transplants with patient-derived cells, potentially reducing rejection rates to near-zero and eliminating lifelong immunosuppressive drug costs (estimated $30,000+ annually per patient), while cutting organ wait times from years to weeks.
How They Differentiate
Focuses on vascularized kidney tissues with patient-specific cells, unlike Organovo's liver tissues or CELLINK's general bioprinters, aiming for direct transplant applications rather than just drug testing.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Hospitals and transplant centers seeking alternatives to donor organs; Pharmaceutical companies for drug testing; Research institutions in regenerative medicine
Industry Verticals
Medical
Competitors
Organovo; CELLINK; Prellis Biologics
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Received $24.8 million ARPA-H award over 5 years for bioprinted kidney tissue development; project is in preclinical stage with bioprinted kidney prototypes tested in nude rats showing glomerular and tubular-like structures after 1-2 months with over 90% cell viability; no revenue reported as it is pre-commercial R&D
Major Milestones
2024: Received $24.8M ARPA-H grant for bioprinted kidney project