Protein bath helps "recellularize" organs for safer transplants HUG-CELL/USP HUG-CELL/USP Organ transplants save lives, but complications can arise if the recipient’s immune system rejects the foreign cells. An emerging technique reduces that risk by stripping the donor cells out of the donor organ and replacing them with the recipient’s own, and now a new study has added an extra step to make that process more effective. There are many hurdles to a successful organ transplant. First is a potentially long wait for a donor with the same blood type, similar body size, and other factors like proximity and availability. Even once a match is found, organs are often rejected, requiring the patient to take drugs that suppress their immune system, which can make them susceptible to infections and other illnesses.