ARREST Consortium receives NWO Grant to develop advanced liver models

The Dutch ARREST consortium has received a major grant of €6.75 million from the NWA-ORC program of NWO (Dutch Research Council). The project will focus on developing innovative liver models using normothermic machine perfusion, a technique that keeps donor livers functioning outside the body.
The funding is part of the NWA-ORC program's 'Regenerative Healthcare' theme, which supports interdisciplinary research with a strong societal impact. This program helps speed up biomedical innovation by supporting 3D models that connect lab research to clinical practice.
A step forward in liver therapy and transplantation
The ARREST consorotium will focus on innovative liver models. These advanced models will be used to test new therapies that aim to improve liver function in patients. The consortium also hopes to create regenerative medicine approaches that could increase the number of usable livers for transplantation. Coordinated by Stan van de Graaf (Amsterdam UMC), the consortium brings together leading experts in liver perfusion and organoid biology. It includes the Dutch liver transplant centers Erasmus MC, UMCG, and LUMC, as well as researchers from Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, and TNO. From the Regenerative Medicine Utrecht community, Prof. Sabine Fuchs (UMC Utrecht) and Dr. Bart Spee (UU) are important contributors to the project. Their expertise in liver disease and regenerative medicine will help connect clinical needs with innovative research.
Bringing innovation to practice
In addition, companies and societal partners are involved to make sure that the project’s outcomes are implemented in liver research, transplantation, and regeneration. Together they are working to create future-ready, patient-focused innovations in regenerative medicine.