To date, the only definitive treatment available for acute or chronic end-stage liver disease is liver transplantation. However, a lack of donor livers subsists, mainly due to expanding indications and the increase of patients on waiting lists. Over the past decade, major advancements have been made in the research field broadly termed “regenerative Hepatology”. These include breakthroughs in stem cell research and in the development of advanced biotechnologies/biomaterials.
Times have become mature to coordinate the integration of multiple distinct technologies in one single advanced therapy development chain leading to the optimization of liver tissue engineering and associated biotechnologies. This with the aim to implement and even replace liver transplantation and thereby serve a large patient group with an urgent medical need.