The 48th Annual Meeting of the Molecular Biology Society of Japan

Organizer: Minoru Takasato (RIKEN), Ryuji Yokokawa (Kyoto University)

It is estimated that approximately 10% of the global population suffers from chronic kidney disease, with over 2 million individuals relying on dialysis or kidney transplantation. However, no definitive cure currently exists, and there is a severe shortage of kidney donors. The idea of artificially creating kidneys, which have complex structures and functions, was once considered a far-off dream. However, the successful generation of kidney organoids in 2014 marked a turning point. Over the past decade, kidney organoids have begun to be utilized in reproducing the pathophysiology of hereditary kidney diseases. Nonetheless, current human organoids still lack the full structural complexity unique to kidneys as an organ and remain functionally immature.This symposium will highlight cutting-edge research aimed at developing next-generation kidney organoids with advanced structure, functionality, and maturity, paving the way for future transplantation therapies.