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Our Timeline

Our technology is built on years of in-house research that spans decades. Our core team of world leading scientists have an international reputation in creating, developing and validating next-generation approaches to kidney, liver, heart, lung, spleen and limb perfusion. This track-record includes world-first discoveries that have changed clinical practice in the NHS and beyond. However, this is only the beginning – we are committed to the continuous improvement of our LIVING-ORGAN research platforms to support the research community in accelerating the safe translation of novel therapies to the clinic, while working on our own pipeline of medical devices and therapies.

First visit to Igelosa to meet Prof. Stig Steen, a pioneer of ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP). This leads to a new way of thinking and a shift of focus towards organ perfusion.

2007
Formal collaboration begins with Igelosa to evaluate if EVLP can be used to modify the donor lung environment.
2009
The Manchester team, led by Prof Nizar Yonan, become the second group in the world to perform a lung transplant with an EVLP reconditioned lung.
2009
Preclinical lab opens at the University of Manchester, initiating a full programme of research to develop physiological perfusion of all organs and tissues.
2012

We demonstrate that in humans, EVLP mobilises the donor immune compartment and can be used to remove donor leukocytes before lung transplantation.

2014

We publish the first multicentre clinical trial in collaboration with Igelosa, and Skane Hospital, Sweden, demonstrating that EVLP of marginal donor lungs does not lead to adverse outcomes following lung transplantation.

2015

We develop a new hypothesis that EVLP removes donor leukocytes (that contribute to rejection). We perform a complex evaluation and publish a seminal paper demonstrating that EVLP alters the donor immune environment, improving clinical outcome after transplant.

2016

We develop a ‘ground-up’ build of a donor kidney perfusion system, with a focus on physiological perfusion (replicating the in-vivo environment). We then publish our first kidney paper, demonstrating that our kidney protocol mobilises the donor immune compartment in the kidney, which will reduce reperfusion injury post-transplant.

2016

Given the role of donor leukocytes in rejection, we then designed and tested a new donor-kidney flush protocol. In this study, we demonstrated that flushing the renal vasculature immediately prior to transplant removed billions of donor leukocytes, many of which play a pathological role in rejection.

2017

The team focus on designing and testing a new approach to limb perfusion, again focusing on recapitulating the in-vivo environment. We publish our first limb paper reporting our vascular flush protocol that should be used to prepare the limb before transplant.

2018

Working with Prof Steen, we evaluate a novel device that can increase safe preservation of the donor heart from 4 hours to 24 hours. We publish a paper in Frontiers of Immunology, demonstrating that this device and protocol significantly immunodeplete the donor heart (removes donor leukocytes) and reduces graft infiltration after transplant.

2020

The team evaluate how perfusion alters cell signalling, and complete a comprehensive proteomic analysis of a wide range of genes. In this study, we demonstrate that perfusion drives mitochondrial salvage and activates cell survival pathways.

2020
Given the success of the flush protocols in the limb and kidney, we then develop a modified donor lung protocol to reduce inflammatory burden and improve early graft function via immediate flushing of the pulmonary vessels prior to lung transplant.
2021

In our previous work we identified changes to several immune and gene related parameters. We recognised unique processes in organs that did not recover during perfusion. We then evaluated if molecules associated with non-recovery could be used as a prognostic indicator during perfusion.

2021

Back to the limb, we completed a randomised preclinical trial to define the optimal parameters for limb perfusion. This world-first data highlighted the importance of physiology during perfusion.

2021
Pebble is founded and officially opens its new laboratory in July, at Alderley Park. We run our first experiments a week after getting the keys.
2021

Back to the science, we assess if our limb NMP protocol has ancillary benefits by removing donor leukocytes that contribute to rejection. We publish a paper demonstrating that our protocol can be used to remove billions of donor cells.

2021
The Team have been developing a new kidney perfusion system. In September we perform our first successful 24-hour physiological kidney perfusion, where all biochemical processes are stable throughout, and the kidney has no injury. This could be a stepwise change to kidney transplantation, electivising transplant and ensuring all potential kidneys can be transplanted.
2021

We publish a preclinical study demonstrating that the addition of a kidney on a limb limb perfusion circuit improves preservation by preventing acidosis and reducing inflammatory burden.

2021
In August, Pebble relocates to a larger facility at Alderley Park, doubling the bandwidth of the lab. Our LIVING-ORGAN systems are upgraded to use state of the art FDA/EMEA approved critical care equipment.
2022

Publications

Explore the Pebble research team’s work in perfusion and preservation solutions, protocols and systems and first-in-class blood purification systems by reading some of the scientific articles we have featured in peer-reviewed journals.
Find out more

If you would like to learn more about how we can help, please get in touch here

Get in touch

Pebble Biotechnology Laboratories,
Beech Court, 122 Hollin Lane,
Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 4LD

Email:
contact@pebble.bio

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