Students, new medical technology in hands-on teaching 'first'

Students on our Surgical Science and Practice Master's programme were treated to world-first: a hands-on introduction to a ground-breaking new medical device which allows an organ to be maintained 'alive' in a functioning state outside the body for a prolonged period.

The device, which is not yet on the market, was developed at Oxford University by Constantin Coussios, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Peter Friend, Professor of Transplantation. Both men are tutors on the Surgical Science and Practice Master's programme.

Students were taken through the principles of developing new surgical technologies, bringing a scientific concept to reality.

Organ transplantation is currently an emergency procedure in which surgeons will typically try to implant an organ within six to eight hours of receiving one.

'What it means for patients is that we can start to use more organs for transplantation, and with more confidence,' said Professor Friend.

Professors Coussios and Friend are interviewed in a video which is available online as part of the University's Annual Review 2012-13. To watch the video, please visit: www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/introducing_oxford/annual_review/research.html#chapter-2

Or you can read a transcript of the interview in pdf format here: www.conted.ox.ac.uk/news/files/13AR_pdf_liver.pdf

To learn more about our part-time Surgical Science and Practice Master's programme, please see: www.conted.ox.ac.uk/ssp

Published 5 February 2014