Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Creating a Bladder in the Lab

An International Leader in Regenerative Medicine

The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) is a leader in translating scientific discovery into clinical therapies.

Physicians and scientists at WFIRM were the first in the world to engineer laboratory-grown organs that were successfully implanted into humans. Today, this interdisciplinary team is working to engineer more than 30 different replacement tissues and organs and to develop healing cell therapies—all with the goal to cure, rather than merely treat, disease.

The Next Evolution of Medical Treatments

Regenerative medicine has been called the “next evolution of medical treatments,” by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. With its potential to heal, this new field of science is expected to revolutionize health care.

“We have many challenges to meet, but are optimistic about the ability of the field to have a significant impact on human health. We believe regenerative medicine promises to be one of the most pervasive influences on public health in the modern era.” — Anthony Atala, MD, Director


Featured Research at WFIRM

WFIRM researchers, reaching a major milestone, are the first to use human liver cells to successfully engineer miniature livers that function – in the lab – like human livers.

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Researchers and scientists at WFIRM are working to engineer pancreatic beta cells in the laboratory using a new type of stem cell derived from amniotic fluid.

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We are currently investigating the possibility of engineering heart valves in the laboratory that will be perfect matches for patients needing valve replacement surgery.

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Last Updated 5/23/2012
US News Best Hospital AwardANCC Magnet Association AwardBest Doctors 2011-2012 AwardConsumer Choice #1 Award 2011-2102US News Best Medical Schools 2011 Award

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