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    • Solving the Organ Transplant Shortage: What’s Next?

    The Global Fight to Save Lives: The Current State of Organ Shortage
    Millions of people worldwide are waiting for organ transplants, fighting to survive day by day. The supply of major organs such as hearts, kidneys, livers, lungs, and pancreases still cannot meet demand. In the United States, an average of 17 people die every day due to a shortage of organs, and similar situations are seen in major countries across Europe and Asia. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the rate of organ donation varies significantly by country, with institutional barriers and social perceptions being major factors. For example, Spain records the world’s highest organ donation rate thanks to strong government-led policies and positive public perception. In contrast, countries such as Japan, Germany, and South Korea have lower donation rates due to cultural and legal obstacles. According to recent statistics from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), as of 2024, there are approximately 104,000 patients on the transplant waiting list in the U.S., a 3% increase from the previous year, with particularly sharp growth in demand for heart and lung transplants.

    Why Isn’t the Supply Increasing? Market and Institutional Bottlenecks
    The root causes of organ shortages are complex. Low consent rates for donation, complicated brain death determination procedures, and a lack of cooperation among medical systems are key issues. Additionally, cultural and religious factors contribute to public reluctance toward organ donation. Some countries, such as the U.S. and Spain, have adopted “opt-out” systems that assume automatic consent, achieving higher donation rates. However, many other nations continue to grapple with legal and ethical debates. South Korea’s current “opt-in” system makes it difficult to obtain active donor consent. Furthermore, the burdens placed on medical staff during organ retrieval and opposition from families also hinder supply growth. Poor information-sharing systems between hospitals and inadequate post-donor management are additional major obstacles. According to an OECD report, institutional transparency and trust-building play critical roles in increasing donation rates, highlighting the need for systematic education and infrastructure improvement.

    Printing the Future: Advances in 3D Bioprinting of Organs
    3D bioprinting technology is emerging as a key solution to the organ shortage crisis. This technique uses stem cells and biomaterials to print kidney, liver, and heart tissues. Recently, Harvard University’s Wyss Institute successfully created artificial liver tissue with complex vascular structures, improving survival rates in animal models. Europe’s Cellink has launched commercial bioprinters to accelerate the commercialization of this research. UK-based biotech firm BioPixel has developed 3D-printed kidney mini-organoids for drug toxicity testing and pre-transplant clinical research, while Osaka University in Japan is conducting the world’s first patient-specific bioprinted heart valve clinical trials. In South Korea, POSTECH and Seoul National University Hospital have jointly developed a bioprinted heart patch and are securing technological leadership, with the government planning to invest KRW 100 billion in bioprinting research starting in 2025.

    Gene Editing and Stem Cells: A New Frontier in Regenerative Medicine
    CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and stem cell research offer promising alternatives to traditional organ donation. Efforts to reduce immune rejection and regenerate organs using patients’ own cells are progressing rapidly. Boston-based eGenesis has successfully removed genes in pig organs that trigger human immune responses, advancing to xenotransplantation clinical trials. Kyoto University in Japan is leading in patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) cardiac regeneration. In Europe, the Max Planck Institute in Germany is developing CRISPR-edited kidney cell therapies for chronic kidney disease patients. In South Korea, CHA Biotech is developing customized stem cell-based liver regeneration therapies, while KAIST is researching a CRISPR-enhanced autologous stem cell liver regeneration platform.

    The Evolution of Artificial Organs
    Technologies for artificial hearts and lungs are advancing rapidly. The Texas Heart Institute is developing the world’s first fully implantable artificial heart without a battery, and France’s Carmat has already received CE approval for its artificial heart, now in European clinical use. Tokyo University has successfully demonstrated the efficacy of miniature artificial lungs in animal models. Medtronic’s automated insulin pump for artificial pancreas applications is commercially available, while Harvard University has achieved over 80% success in six-month trials using artificial pancreas systems for blood glucose management. In South Korea, Yonsei Medical Center and LG Electronics are jointly developing next-generation artificial heart pumps. The government has also launched an “AI-integrated Artificial Organ Development Roadmap” to lead in this field globally.

    AI Revolutionizing Matching: Smart Algorithms and Recipient Prediction
    AI technology is dramatically improving the efficiency of matching organ donors with recipients. Traditionally based only on blood type and tissue compatibility, AI now analyzes thousands of medical data points to predict optimal recipients and improve transplant success rates. UNOS in the U.S. has implemented a Predictive Analytics Engine to significantly enhance waitlist management. The UK’s NHS Blood and Transplant uses machine learning algorithms to predict survival rates for heart transplant patients. Stanford University has developed an AI-based model for predicting post-liver transplant complications, demonstrating over 92% accuracy in clinical trials. In South Korea, KAIST and Severance Hospital are collaborating on an AI-driven liver transplant matching algorithm, while Asan Medical Center is developing an “AI-based Organ Compatibility Prediction Platform.”

    Ethical Debates and Legal Evolution: How Far Should We Go?
    Gene editing, xenotransplantation, and artificial organ technologies continue to test ethical boundaries. Bioethics committees are actively discussing issues around human-animal chimeras and organ commercialization. The NIH has recently updated clinical trial guidelines for xenotransplantation, while the European Parliament is debating intellectual property rights and usage conditions for bioprinted organs. Germany’s bioethics commission has strengthened guidelines for human-animal chimera research, and Japan is revising clinical guidelines for stem cell-based artificial organ applications. South Korea, through its 2024 amendments to the Bioethics and Safety Act, has redefined research standards for xenotransplantation and gene editing. The National Bioethics Policy Research Institute has also launched studies to harmonize these guidelines internationally.

    The New Blue Ocean: Key Companies and Investment Trends
    Global biotech companies are investing heavily in alternative organ transplantation technologies. U.S.-based Unity Biotechnology and Organovo, Israel’s BioTime, and South Korea’s Medipost and Curacle are among the top companies. PwC projects the transplant-related biotech market will reach approximately KRW 200 trillion by 2035, with venture capital investment increasing 25% year-on-year as of 2025. California-based Viscient Biosciences is gaining attention with its AI-based kidney models, while Europe’s EpiBone is leading the market for 3D-printed cartilage tissues. In South Korea, companies like Cell & Bio, Genecurix, and Genexine are emerging as promising players.

    The Current State and Challenges of Organ Transplantation in Korea
    Organ donation consent rates in South Korea remain low, and expanding a donation culture is an urgent issue. According to KODA, as of 2024, there are approximately 530,000 registered donors, with about 450 brain-dead donors annually. Around 5,500 patients are on the waiting list, with severe shortages in heart and lung transplants. The government is expanding education and public campaigns, while domestic biotech firms are pursuing advancements in 3D bioprinting and stem cell therapies. Seoul Asan Medical Center and Samsung Medical Center are jointly researching artificial lungs and hearts, and development of AI-based organ matching systems is accelerating. However, experts stress that legal and institutional reform must be accompanied by ongoing efforts to improve public perception.

    The Policy Innovation Agenda: Public-Private Cooperation Strategies
    Global trends point toward stronger public-private collaboration. Governments are focusing on funding and regulatory reforms, while private firms drive technological development and commercialization. In the U.S., the 21st Century Cures Act has dramatically improved processes for regenerative medicine and AI-based medical device approvals. The EU’s Horizon Europe program will invest approximately €10 billion in relevant research by 2027. Japan’s Ministry of Health is promoting its “Advanced Regenerative Medicine Acceleration Strategy,” while South Korea’s Advanced Regenerative Medicine Promotion Act is driving investment and regulatory improvements starting in 2024. The government aims to elevate the nation’s biohealth sector into the global top 10 by 2025 and is pushing forward international consortium building through public-private partnerships.

    The Next 10 Years: Future Scenarios for Resolving Organ Shortages
    The next decade will be pivotal in overcoming organ shortages. Commercialization of 3D bioprinted organs, clinical success of gene-edited organs, and market expansion of artificial organs are all on the horizon. Simultaneously, ethical and societal debates will intensify. Whether technological advances can align with the dignity of human life and whether policies and society can evolve accordingly remain ongoing challenges. According to McKinsey & Company, clinical applications of 3D-printed kidneys and livers could become a reality by 2030, and global organ shortages are expected to gradually ease through technological and institutional progress. Establishing ethical standards based on broad social consensus and building fair organ allocation systems will also become key priorities.

    * Reference
    World Health Organization (WHO), Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation Reports, 2024
    United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), Annual Data Report 2024
    Nature Biotechnology, "Advances in 3D Bioprinting for Organ Regeneration", 2024
    Science Translational Medicine, "CRISPR Gene Editing in Organ Transplantation", 2024
    The Lancet, "Trends in Artificial Organs and Xenotransplantation", 2025
    한국장기조직기증원(KODA), 2024 연례 보고서
    Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea, "Organ Donation and Transplantation in Korea", 2024
    McKinsey & Company, "Biotech Investment Trends 2025"
    PwC, "Global Healthcare Market Analysis", 2025
    Harvard Wyss Institute Research Publications, 2024
    Cellink, Corporate Reports 2024
    eGenesis Corporate Press Release, 2024
    European Commission, Horizon Europe Program Brief, 2025
    NIH Xenotransplantation Guidelines, 2025
    OECD Health Policy Studies, "Organ Donation: Policy Challenges", 2024
    Stanford University AI in Healthcare Reports, 2025
    Tokyo University Medical Robotics Lab Publications, 2024
    Viscient Biosciences Investor Reports, 2025
    Korean Advanced Bioprinting Forum Proceedings, 2025