Project Humanize funded by La Caixa Foundation

Pubblicato il: 17.12.2024 18:03

Humanize, generation of human organs from pluripotent stem cells.

Organ transplantation offers a definitive solution for many severe diseases, yet donor organ shortages remain a critical challenge globally. In Italy alone, around 8,000 patients await transplants in 2024, with kidneys, livers, hearts, lungs, and pancreases in high demand. A promising solution lies in generating organs from human pluripotent stem cells, which can differentiate into any tissue type and be produced in large quantities. 

The HUMANIZE project, funded by Spain’s La Caixa Foundation with €1 million over three years, aims to develop technologies for identifying high-potential stem cells to create human organs, focusing on heart generation due to donor scarcity. Led by Prof. Graziano Martello (University of Padua) and Dr. Xabier Lopez Aranguren (CIMA, Spain), the project integrates advanced in vitro models and computational approaches. 

Previous studies on rodents showed that pluripotent stem cells could form entire organs, but molecular mechanisms behind this capacity remain unclear. HUMANIZE seeks to replicate this potential in human cells, ultimately testing their functionality in animal models, such as pigs. Success could revolutionize transplantation, alleviate organ shortages, and drive biotech innovation globally.