A research team led by Adam Feinberg, Professor at Carnegie Mellon University and CTO and co-founder of FluidForm Bio, has received up to $28.5 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to develop a functional, 3D bioprinted liver for patients suffering from acute liver failure.
The award, part of ARPA-H’s PRINT (Personalized Regenerative Immunocompetent Nanotechnology Tissue) program, supports the ambitious LIVE (Liver Immunocompetent Volumetric Engineering) project—an effort to create transplant-grade, immune-compatible human liver grafts that can temporarily replace failing organs and give patients time to heal.
Addressing a Critical Organ Shortage
Each year in the United States, approximately 100,000 organ transplants are performed, while a similar number of patients remain on waiting lists. Millions more could benefit from organ replacement but never qualify. For patients with acute liver failure, time is often the most limited resource.
The LIVE project aims to change that reality by developing bioengineered liver tissue that can function for two to four weeks, providing a critical bridge to recovery.
“The goal is to create a piece of liver tissue that you can use as an alternative to transplant,” Feinberg explained. “It would give patients time for their own liver to regenerate, freeing donor organs for others.”
A Global, Multidisciplinary Collaboration
The project brings together an international team of experts in engineering, biology, and medicine. It is co-led by Kelly Stevens of the University of Washington, and includes collaborators from:
- Mayo Clinic
- University of Pittsburgh
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
- Iowa State University
Within Carnegie Mellon, faculty from Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Materials Science contribute expertise in biomanufacturing, biomaterials, and microfabrication.
Advanced Bioprinting with FRESH Technology
At the heart of the LIVE initiative is Carnegie Mellon’s pioneering FRESH (Freeform Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogels) 3D bioprinting platform. This technology enables researchers to print delicate, collagen-based structures with embedded vascular networks capable of supporting living human cells.
Using FRESH and 3D ice templating systems, the team will fabricate livers composed entirely of human cells and structural proteins. These constructs are designed to mimic native liver architecture and enable sustained perfusion inside bioreactors.
Unlike conventional transplants, the bioprinted livers are engineered to be immune-compatible, minimizing rejection risks and reducing dependence on toxic immunosuppressive drugs.
Overcoming the Immune Barrier
One of the most significant challenges in organ transplantation is immune rejection. The LIVE project addresses this through the use of hypoimmune cells—genetically engineered cells designed to function as universal donors.
“We are going to be using hypoimmune cells,” Feinberg noted, “so anyone can receive the tissues we build without needing immune suppression.”
This approach has the potential to dramatically expand access to regenerative therapies and reduce long-term complications for transplant patients.
Backed by ARPA-H’s PRINT Program
The PRINT program is led by ARPA-H Program Manager Ryan Spitler, Ph.D., and focuses on developing scalable, immunocompatible tissue technologies for clinical use.
Under the five-year, 60-month award (D25AC00460-00), the LIVE team aims to advance from laboratory-scale prototypes to adult-scale liver constructs ready for preclinical testing and eventual first-in-human trials.
Beyond the Liver: A Platform for Regenerative Medicine
While the initial focus is on acute liver failure, the team views LIVE as a foundation for a broader organ biofabrication platform. The technologies developed could be adapted for:
- Heart tissue and congenital heart defects
- Pancreatic constructs for diabetes
- Kidney support systems
- Retinal and neural tissues for blindness and neurological disease
“The liver is just the first application,” Feinberg emphasized. “Our long-term vision is to expand to multiple organs.”
A Transformative Step for Healthcare
By combining advanced bioprinting, immune engineering, and scalable manufacturing through FluidForm Bio, the LIVE project represents one of the most comprehensive efforts yet to translate biofabricated organs into clinical reality.
“The LIVE project is going to significantly advance organ biofabrication for transplant,” Feinberg said. “It brings together the very best engineers, biologists, and clinicians to build technologies that can fundamentally change healthcare.”
If successful, this initiative could redefine how medicine treats end-stage organ failure—moving from scarcity-driven transplantation toward on-demand, patient-compatible regenerative solutions.
This work is supported by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) under Award Number D25AC00460-00, providing up to $28,520,065 over 60 months. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of ARPA-H.
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