Developing the next-generation Artificial Lung
Researchers from the Critical Care Research Group (CCRG) are developing a next-generation Artificial Lung that could help transform treatment of people living with life-threatening lung disease, offering the potential for greater independence, improved quality of life and shorter stays in intensive care.
Unlike current life-support technologies such as extracorporeal life support oxygenation (ECMO), which is only designed for short-term support while in hospital, the new Artificial Lung is being engineered to be smaller, safer and portable. The device will use the body's own blood pressure to move blood through the system, reducing damage to blood cells and lowering the risk of complications. Integrated smart sensors will continuously monitor performance to help ensure the device remains safe and effective.
Project Manager and Lead of CCRG’s Innovative Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology Lab (ICETLab), Dr Eric Wu said that by combining advanced engineering with clinical expertise, researchers are designing a device that not only improves performance and safety but is practical for use both in and beyond the hospital setting.
“Currently, patients with end-stage lung failure may rely on machines like ECMO, which are large, complex, and keep patients confined to intensive care units. These machines are only used short-term and come with serious risks like bleeding, infection, organ damage, patient deterioration due to being bed-bound, muscle deconditioning, and high risk of death.
“By creating a more durable and patient-centred Artificial Lung, we hope to reduce complications associated with current therapies, enable patients to remain active for longer, and ultimately improve outcomes for people awaiting lung transplantation or living with advanced lung disease.”
CCRG is internationally recognised for its multidisciplinary approach to healthcare innovation, bringing together biomedical engineers, intensive care specialists, and importantly, patients and their families throughout the design process. This collaborative model ensures the technology is shaped by both clinical expertise and the real-world experiences of the people who will ultimately benefit from the research.
“We are incredibly grateful to be working in collaboration with the lung transplant physicians and cardiothoracic surgeons at The Prince Charles Hospital to help optimise the development of this next-gen technology,” said Dr Wu.
In November 2025, Dr Wu was awarded a three-year Research Fellowship from The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation to help fund and accelerate the project.
“I am extremely appreciative of the generous support provided by donors to The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation. This fellowship offers essential financial resources to advance the Artificial Lung through preclinical development, preparing the technology for future clinical studies. It also provides the stability needed to grow the the ICETLab, enabling me to mentor outstanding research students and staff as we work together to drive the device toward clinical impact,” he said.
Pictured: Dr Eric Wu receives the award for his Research Fellowship from The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation’s Board Chair, Mr Christopher Morton., July 2026.
Taking cardiovascular technologies from idea to implementation
Mortality from cardiovascular disease is expected to rise exponentially over the next 20 years. Cardiovascular devices such as artificial hearts, lungs and valves are set to play an important role in managing these patients. Current and emerging devices follow a perilous development path prior to clinical implementation, whereby their subsequent uptake is often slow.
“The purpose of the Innovative Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology Laboratory (ICETLab) is to facilitate the transition of innovative cardiovascular technologies from idea to clinical implementation, whilst also investigating the clinical challenges facing existing technology,” said Dr Wu, Lead, ICETLab.