Using stem cells from umbilical cords, Nico Forraz and Colin McGuckin, from Newcastle University, have grown the miniature livers in a laboratory. The livers are about the size of a 1p piece, and are a vital first step in creating a full-sized liver. They can already be used for drug testing, reducing the need to test on animals and human beings.

The stem cells were placed in a bioreactor — an instrument developed by Nasa to mimic the effects of weightlessness. Without the effects of gravity the cells multiplied more quickly and hormones and chemicals were then added to coax the stem cells into turning into liver tissue.

Dr Forraz said: “We have taken a little bit of umbilical cord blood and then it is all about enhancing things that already exist.

“We cannot build a full-sized one yet — that will take about ten years — but this is the first important step. And we have excellent facilities in the North East to be able to make this happen. We expect this to really take off within the next 18 months or so.”

Dr Forraz’s and Professor McGuckin’s work has already won recognition — they took the science and technology award at the North East Universities Business Planning Competition last week.

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