North-East scientists grow artificial liver

12:43pm Monday 30th October 2006

SCIENTISTS in the North-East have grown an artificial liver set to revolutionise the medical world.

Medics based at Newcastle University have grown a tiny liver, believed to be the first of its kind.

Using stem cells taken from umbilical cords, Dr Nico Forraz and Professor Colin McGuckin made the amazing breakthrough.

The two scientists took a trip to Houston, Texas, to work with scientists at NASA.

And using some skills they learned at NASA they were able to make the miniature livers which can now be used for drug and pharmaceutical testing, eradicating the need to test on animals and humans.

And it is the vital first step in creating a fully artificial liver that can be used for transplants.

Dr Forraz said: "We have taken a little bit of umbilical cord blood and then it is all about enhancing things that already exist. And we have now built artificial mini-livers.

"We cannot build a full sized one yet, that will take about ten years but this is the first important step.

"And we have excellent facilities in the North-East to be able to make this happen.

"We expect this to really take off within the next 18 months or so.

"And our long term aim is to manufacture on the North-East which will create many jobs."

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