We don’t have enough organs. Due to our ageing population and the rising burden of chronic diseases, the organs of living people are failing. Meanwhile, those of the recently dead continue to be in short supply, despite well-funded initiatives to increase donation. So what can we do?

This isn’t an easy piece to structure – it’s almost like two mini-features. But I was struck at how people who work on both approaches were drawn into the field by their frustration at being able to save terminally ill patients but just not having the replacement parts to do it. Do have a read. Here’s the first act, to whet your appetite:

For Joseph Vacanti, the quest to build new organs began after