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3D PRINTING LUNGS
Researchers 3D-Print Functional Lung Tissue to Advance Disease Treatment
How Canadian scientists are merging engineering and biology to reshape lung disease research and the future of organ transplantation
For millions of people around the world, breathing — something so fundamental to life — remains an ongoing battle. Whether from tuberculosis (TB), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, or the lingering effects of COVID-19, lung diseases continue to exact a heavy toll. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), respiratory illnesses collectively account for millions of deaths each year, with TB alone claiming over 1.3 million lives annually.
Yet, for all the progress modern medicine has made, scientists have long faced a frustrating barrier: the human lung is incredibly difficult to study. Its fragile structure, intricate branching airways, and vast network of blood vessels make it nearly impossible to replicate using traditional research models. Now, a team of scientists at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) believes they may have found a way forward — by 3D printing lungs, layer by layer, using living human cells.
