Toward a bioartificial kidney: will embryonic stem cells be the answer?

Directing the development of human embryonic stem cells into functional renal tubular cells has been limited by the lack of defined, reproducible differentiation and culture protocols. If these cells are to be used for in vitro testing or therapeutics, viability under bioreactor conditions is required. Narayanan et al. describe in detail such methodology. Such knowledge will hopefully accelerate the development of the Holy Grail of nephrology, the bioartificial kidney. Kidney International (2013) 83, 543-545. doi:10.1038/ki.2012.461