November brought the astonishing news that Israeli researchers have invented the first system for engineering fully personalized tissue implants from a patient’s own small fatty tissue biopsy. It does not provoke an immune response as does implanted tissue of plant or animal origin, and ensures proper regeneration of the defected organ.

Regenerative medicine illustration by Valentina Kru via Shutterstock.com

The researchers are currently working on regenerating an injured spinal cord and an infarcted heart with spinal-cord and cardiac implants, and are investigating human dopaminergic implants to treat Parkinson’s disease in animal models. They plan to regenerate other organs, including intestines and eyes, in the same way.