Investigators from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have created what they describe as "mini-kidneys" from stem cells.
The advance, reported by
Medical News Today, could pave the way for new methods of studying the development of kidney disease and lead to the creation of new drugs that target the condition.
The researchers noted that scientists have previously created precursors of kidney cells using human stem cells this year, but the team at Salk is the first to create 3D cellular structures that are more similar to those found in human kidneys.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Disease, more than 20 million Americans have some form of chronic kidney disease, highlighting the need for better knowledge and treatment of the condition.
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