3D Printing, AI, Genetic Engineering Powering Organ Transplantation

As the pressing need for organ transplantation grows rapidly worldwide, latest technologies have come to the aid of this critical task.

One method developed in 2024 using artificial intelligence (AI) to assess potential transplant organs has recently drawn recognition as an NHS award winner. Known as OrQA – Organ Quality Assessment – the technology scans images of organs to look at suitability for kidney and liver transplants.

In another landmark moment for medicine, a 3D-printed organ was successfully transplanted into a patient for the first time ever. Last year, a team of scientists, doctors and engineers became the first people to perform a 3D-printed windpipe transplant at Seoul St Mary’s Hospital. Experts believe 3D printing technology will revolutionize the sphere of organ transplantation within a few years.

Another notable breakthrough has been transplanting genetically modified pig kidney into living human patient for the first time ever, which were conducted by researchers in the US and China over the first quarter of 2024.