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R3 Bio Develops Headless Human Bodyoids for Organ Farming and Testing
The startup says the brain-free platforms could make testing more scalable and eventually provide a source of transplantable human tissues.
- San Francisco-based biotech startup R3 Bio is developing genetically engineered 'bodyoids'—complete organ systems grown without brains—to replace laboratory animals in drug testing and preclinical research.
- The pharmaceutical industry burns through millions of lab animals annually, yet nine out of ten drugs that pass animal trials still fail in humans. CEO Alice Gilman argued the sector needs systemic change.
- R3 Bio utilizes induced pluripotent stem cells to grow these structures, with backing from investors including American billionaire Tim Draper and Singaporean investment fund Immortal Dragons to advance the technology.
- While some reports suggested R3 Bio aims to create human clones, the company stated it "never made any statement regarding hypothetical" non-sentient human clones, emphasizing current focus on research platforms.
- Beyond drug research, the company envisions these bodyoids eventually supplying transplantable organs, though significant regulatory and ethical questions remain regarding human-derived biological platforms and their future use.
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Biotech Startup Wants To Grow 'Headless' Human Bodies To Use In Scientific Testing, Organ Farming
A biotech startup wants to replace laboratory animals with “headless” bodies grown from human cells. And that isn’t even the weirdest thing they want to do. The company, R3 Bio, wants to replace lab animals with these living “organ sacks.” They would contain all of the typical human organs, except for the brain. That way, the bodies wouldn’t be able to think or feel pain. The company’s co-founder, Alice Gilman, recently told Wired their goal is …
MIT Technology ReviewReposted by 
Bioethics.com
Bioethics.comInside the stealthy startup that pitched brainless human clones
Need a backup body? We uncovered a radical proposal for “full body replacement.”
·Boston, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources23
Leaning Left1Leaning Right5Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Right
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources lean Right
56% Right
11%
C 33%
R 56%
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