The Applications and Future Prospects of Organ Medicine

Abstract

Medical research spans multiple levels—from population and individual studies to cellular and molecular investigations—encompassing disciplines such as epidemiology, clinical medicine, cell biology, and molecular medicine. However, the organ level remains underexplored due to the historical lack of technology capable of maintaining isolated organs under physiological conditions ex situ [1]. This gap has hindered a direct and precise understanding of organ function and disease mechanisms, often leading to systemic therapies with unavoidable side effects.

Throughout scientific history, transformative devices have catalyzed paradigm shifts. The steam engine and telescope, for example, revolutionized industry and astronomy, respectively. Similarly, ex situ machine perfusion (MP), initially developed for organ transplantation, now offers a novel platform for advancing medical science. Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) in particular simulates in situ circulation, maintaining organ viability and functionality outside the body. This enables controlled investigation of organ physiology, disease pathogenesis, and the development of targeted therapies.

Dr. Xiaoshun He's group has recently proposed a new concept of Organ Medicine (Figure 1), namely, investigation and treatment of diseases at an organ level with the help of isolated or ex situ machine perfusion technology [2]. Herein, we write this editorial with the aim of engaging the wider scientific community in this cutting-edge area. We will explore the potential use of this concept in both biology and medicine. We will discuss the current status and future directions of Organ Medicine in the aspects of organ research, organ therapy, as well as organ education.

Ex situ MP serves not only as a tool for organ repair but also as a versatile research platform. It allows detailed study of organ physiology and pathophysiology, inter-organ interactions, and provides a stable model for drug discovery and testing.

Organ Medicine represents a paradigm shift beyond transplantology, integrating ex situ perfusion technology into research, therapy, and education. By enabling organ-level investigation, targeted treatment, and immersive training, this field holds promise to deepen our understanding of human physiology and disease, accelerate therapeutic innovation, and redefine medical practice. Its interdisciplinary nature will further foster convergence with bioengineering, biology, and related sciences, ultimately contributing to improved health outcomes and quality of life.

Jiayi Zhang: supervision, writing – review and editing, methodology, validation, visualization, formal analysis. Youlu Liu: writing – review and editing, visualization, formal analysis, project administration. Yuexin Li: software, formal analysis, project administration. Rican Hu: formal analysis, writing – original draft. Runbing Mo: writing – original draft, software. Yuyi Zhang: writing – original draft, software. Guangliang Huang: writing – review and editing, supervision. Xiaoshun He: funding acquisition, investigation, supervision, resources, data curation, writing – review and editing.

The authors have nothing to report.

The authors have nothing to report.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

The data that support this article are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.