The Art of Folding Tissues for Transplant
Organ origami: The Art of Folding Tissues for Transplant
Organ Origami
April 17th 2026
Transplantation lives between urgency and hope. The frontier of biomedical and scientific knowledge in this area is constantly renewing and redefining itself.
Can we print functional organs, ready to integrate into a new body? Can the animal-human bridge safely offer time? Can “phantom organs”, stripped of cells, gain a new identity in a recipient?
In the Organ Origami: The Art of Folding Tissues for Transplants module, we explore bioprinting, xenotransplantations, and decellularized scaffolds, side-by-side with immune tolerance and safety with those who are already redesigning the future of transplantation.
Speaker
Pankaj Chandak, MBBS, PhD
Pankaj Chandak is a transplant surgeon and researcher who specializes in complex pediatric kidney transplantation.
He pioneered the use of 3D-printed organ models to plan difficult surgeries in small children, significantly improving surgical safety and outcomes. He also works on ex vivo normothermic machine perfusion of donor kidneys, developing human models to study — and potentially prevent — antibody-mediated organ rejection. His research blends surgical innovation, tissue engineering, and immunology to make transplantation more effective and safer.
Speaker
Joan-Pere Nerín, MD
Dr. Joan‑Pere Barret Nerín is a leading plastic, reconstructive, and burn surgeon based at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona, where he serves as Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns. He has a significant international background, having trained and worked in the United States, the Netherlands, and the UK, where he developed expertise in microsurgery and other advanced surgical techniques.
His career combines surgical innovation with regenerative medicine: he has been involved in pioneering work such as full-face transplantation. More recently, he has participated in translational research projects, including the 4D‑Bioskin project, which aims to manufacture 3D-bioprinted autologous skin tissues for treating burn patients. His research output also covers burn reconstruction, enzymatic debridement (using bromelain), and improving long-term outcomes for patients with severe burns.
Speaker
Dilek Gürsoy, MD
Dr. Dilek Gürsoy is a German-Turkish cardiac surgeon internationally recognised for becoming the first woman in Europe to implant a total artificial heart, a landmark achievement in the management of end-stage heart failure. With a career spanning advanced mechanical circulatory support, she has contributed extensively to the evolution of artificial-heart systems, combining surgical expertise with active involvement in next-generation device development. Her work has earned significant distinction, including being named “Physician of the Year 2019” in Germany and inclusion in the BBC’s “100 Women” list. Through her clinical innovation, research, and advocacy for equitable access to advanced cardiac care, Dr. Gürsoy continues to shape the future of artificial-heart technology and modern cardiac surgery.