Joo Kim Lab

Our goal is to improve liver transplantation by addressing two pressing challenges: preserving donor organs and supporting patients with severe liver failure when transplantation is not immediately available.

Our work centers on machine perfusion, which keeps livers functioning outside the body. We have developed experimental models and measurement tools to assess donor liver viability before transplantation, and we study the mechanisms of liver injury and strategies to protect and recover donor organs, so that fewer usable livers are declined.

Building on this platform, we are developing a liver assist system that uses perfused porcine livers to support patients in liver failure as a bridge to recovery or transplantation.

Our lab brings together surgeons, engineers, immunologists, and computational scientists to translate this work to patients.