Researchers at Tel Aviv University and Sheba Medical Center have made a major scientific breakthrough by successfully growing a human kidney organoid in the laboratory. An organoid is a tiny, three-dimensional model of an organ, and this new creation is far superior to any previous model. For the first time, the team grew the kidney organoid from specialized kidney stem cells, rather than from more general stem cells. This innovative approach has resulted in a model that perfectly mirrors the development of a human fetal kidney. One of the most remarkable aspects of this new organoid is its longevity. It can be kept alive and stable for an impressive 34 weeks, which is more than six months. This marks a significant improvement over older models, which typically failed and broke down after only four weeks. This extended lifespan allows for long-term research and medical testing on the kidney model.Also Read: Flesh-Eating Screwworm Parasite Detected in First US Human Case: Know the Warning Signs How Did Scientists Make This Lab-Grown Kidney? Before this breakthrough, scientists used "master" cells called pluripotent stem cells to grow organoids. The problem was that these cells could turn into any type of cell, which often led to the organoids being "contaminated" with unwanted cells from other parts of the body. This made experiments difficult to trust. The new method is different. It uses stem cells that are already programmed to only become kidney cells. Because of this, the new organoid is a "clean" model, made purely of kidney tissue. This purity allows for more accurate and reliable experiments, so scientists can be sure their results are directly related to the kidney. This new model gives researchers a clear look at how a kidney grows. They can watch for months as different parts of the kidney form, like the blood filters and urinary ducts. By using this model, they made a big discovery about birth defects. They intentionally blocked a signal in the organoid and watched as a developmental problem appeared, one that is known to cause kidney birth defects in people. This shows them exactly how a small mistake in development can lead to a serious medical condition. How Does The Artificial Kidney Change Medicine Researchers explain that this breakthrough provides a powerful new tool that could change medicine. Understanding Disease The model helps scientists see how problems in development lead to kidney diseases. This could lead to new treatments that fix the root cause of these illnesses. Safe Drug Testing Researchers can now safely test if new drugs are harmful to a developing kidney, which is especially important for protecting babies during pregnancy. Regenerative Medicine This new process creates a reliable supply of kidney cells. These cells could be used in research or as building blocks for new therapies to repair or replace damaged kidneys. Why Is This Artificial Kidney So Important? Although the organ made is not yet transplantable, it is a step towards better care and more organ transplants for people who need it. To understand how the wait time increases or decreases, a 2025 study published in JAMA Open Network, used a computer model of 662,190 patients found that if the kidney transplant waiting list grew, so would the wait times. A 10% increase in the waiting list would add about 4 months to the wait time.A 50% increase in the waiting list would add about 20 months to the wait time. As the time increases, so does the desperation for a properly working organ that helps them increase the quality of their life. This artificial kidney could help many people, who are in the waitlist, by helping them sustain for more than 6 months, while they wait for a new organ for the transplant. Researchers are working towards bettering this medical future, which will soon be helping many.