Organovo Holdings, Inc. (ONVO)

[IxRACEx4xPHO]

Growing a full sized functional liver to replace a damaged one may be decades away. But growing small pieces that represent a real liver (in 3D space) isn't.

At the moment, we (we being scientists because I am one) can dissociate cells to collect stem cells and regrow small pieces of intestines that become small enclosed organs (organoids)(REFERENCE below). No one has been able grow a small piece of liver in 3D yet. Thus, 3D printing could be the answer to that question.

My hope in this company is that they can manage to print enough liver tissue for scientific research (drug screening as well as cancer and cell biology) see and bring in revenue. This is the start to the full size functional liver for replacement purposes.

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/340/6137/1190.long