World’s Longest-Lived Lab-Grown Kidney Organoid Developed by Sheba Medical Center and Tel Aviv University

For the first time in the world, Sheba’s researchers have grown human kidney organoids, a synthetic 3D organ culture, from tissue stem cells that developed over 34 weeks – the longest-lived and purest kidney organoids ever developed – opening new possibilities in regenerative medicine, birth defect research, and drug toxicity testing.

This breakthrough achievement represents a dramatic advance over previous kidney organoid models that typically broke down within just four weeks. The research team, led by Prof. Benjamin Dekel, Director of the Pediatric Nephrology Unit and the Stem Cell Research Institute at the Safra Children’s Hospital at Sheba Medical Center, successfully grew these organoids from kidney-specific tissue stem cells rather than pluripotent stem cells, eliminating the contamination issues that plagued earlier models.

“About a decade ago, my research group was able to isolate for the first time the human kidney tissue stem cells that are responsible for the growth of the organ. Now we have succeeded for the first time in growing a human kidney in the form of an organoid from the specific stem cells of the kidney, and this in parallel with the maturation process in the uterus that occurs until the 34th week of pregnancy,” said Prof. Benjamin Dekel, Director of the Pediatric Nephrology Unit and the Stem Cell Research Institute at Sheba’s Safra Children’s Hospital.

A Breakthrough Model for Kidney Development Research

The study, published in The EMBO Journal, has profound implications for global healthcare. It allows researchers to see the development of the organ in real time, isolate genes that lead to birth defects, develop new treatments in the field of regenerative medicine, and test the toxicity of drugs during pregnancy on fetal kidneys.

“We are actually seeing live how a developmental problem leads to kidney diseases that are seen in the clinic, which will enable the development of innovative treatments,” Prof. Dekel added.

The clean and stable nature of this organoid, developed without the cellular interference common in earlier models, allows researchers to conduct clear cause-and-effect experiments. In one case, blocking a specific signaling pathway in the organoid revealed how certain birth defects originate, offering critical insights for future interventions.

Over the 34-week development period, these kidney-specific stem cells differentiated into various types of kidney cells and formed distinct kidney tissues, including blood filters and urinary ducts—a complex process known as tubulogenesis.

Opening Doors to Regenerative Medicine

Beyond research, this achievement sets the foundation for regenerative kidney therapies.

“The fact that we can grow kidney tissue stem cells outside the body over time opens the door to regenerative medicine, that is, transplanting kidney tissue grown in the laboratory, inside the body,” said Prof. Dekel. “We now have an essentially inexhaustible source of different kidney cells and a better understanding of their different roles in kidney development and function.”

The study was a collaboration between Sheba’s clinical research team and academic partners at Tel Aviv University, including Dr. Michael Namestannikov and Dr. Osnat Cohen-Sontag, and exemplifies the strength of Israel’s innovation ecosystem.

“In recent years, we have witnessed attempts to distance Israel from international centers of influence, and scientific successes of this kind are a reminder that our contribution to medical and scientific research is significant and unquestionable,” said Prof. Dror Harats, Chairman of the Sheba Research Authority.

This groundbreaking research not only advances our understanding of kidney development but also demonstrates the power of collaborative scientific innovation. As researchers continue to explore the therapeutic potential of these long-lasting organoids, this work establishes a new foundation for studying kidney diseases and developing treatments that could benefit patients worldwide.

Every breakthrough at Sheba Medical Center stems from a shared commitment to improving lives, strengthening communities, and shaping the future of healthcare.