Organ transplantation: Record numbers in Czechia and breakthrough in kidney preservation

In the Czech Republic, the Coordination Center for Transplantation reported a record number of organ transplants last year, with 977 procedures performed. This surpasses the previous high of 972 in 2024 and significantly exceeds the annual average of 550 to 600 seen around 2010. Consequently, the waiting list for organs has decreased, with 819 patients waiting in 2025, the lowest number since 2009.

Medical professionals at IKEM note that kidney transplant waiting times have dropped from up to two years to approximately nine to twelve months. Successful kidney transplants show a 99 percent function rate in the first year, offering a significantly lower mortality rate compared to patients undergoing long-term dialysis.

In a separate scientific development, researchers at the University of Minnesota have successfully restored the function of a pig kidney after it was preserved at minus 150 degrees Celsius for 366 days. Using vitrification—a process that turns tissue into a glass-like state to prevent ice crystal damage—and iron oxide nanoparticles to enable controlled internal heating via electromagnetic fields, the team demonstrated that organs could be stored for much longer than the current 24 to 36-hour window.