A US research team is developing a functional 3D bioprinted liver. The project, titled Liver Immunocompetent Volumetric Engineering (LIVE), aims to address the shortage of donor organs by developing a temporary liver that buys time for the patient’s own organ to heal, ultimately bypassing the need for a full transplant.

The liver is the only organ capable of complete regeneration over time. The LIVE team is using FRESH 3D bioprinting, a proprietary technique that enables researchers to print soft, delicate biological materials, such as collagen and human stem cells, into complex structures. The team believes this is the blueprint for the future of healthcare, ultimately leading to bioengineered hearts, pancreas, and other organs.