Discovery research in physiologically maintained deceased

Deceased humans in whom ventilation and circulation are maintained for a defined period after the declaration of death by neurologic criteria (brain death), referred to here as physiologically maintained deceased (PMD), mimic live human physiology, providing highly valuable research opportunities. Medical research involving PMDs has narrowed translational gaps and ushered in groundbreaking treatments, including the transplantation of gene-edited organs into living human patients (1). However, the potential of PMDs remains largely untapped for human therapeutic discovery research. PMDs may be particularly advantageous in discovering and advancing new therapies, such as gene therapies, that are human specific and therefore are limited by nonhuman research models. We envision PMD research as a transformative force for human therapeutic discovery and emphasize the importance of upholding established bioethical standards and pursuing ongoing ethical inquiry to ensure the protection of all stakeholders.