02 / Provide sustainable organ and tissue replacement

Why it matters

Some of the most important tissue in the human body—like heart muscles and nerve cells—cannot regenerate the way skin or bone can. Neither can irreversibly damaged or dysfunctional organs. Heart diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, and there are an estimated 1.5 to 2 million people waiting for a donor organ globally, due to supply shortages. Several of the approaches that excite us include induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as a platform with the potential to address a range of indications and xenotransplantation to create a sustainable supply of organs.

What if a patient’s heart muscles could be fully restored after a heart attack, empowering their return to a full and healthy life? What if getting a new kidney was as simple as a hip or knee replacement, leaving patients untethered from dialysis? Advances in cell and gene therapies are bringing this future closer to reality.