London scientists grow noses and ears

Dr Michelle Griffin, a plastic research fellow, poses for photographs with a synthetic polymer ear at her research facility in the Royal Free Hospital in London, March 31, 2014.

In a north London hospital, scientists are growing noses, ears and blood vessels in the laboratory in a bold attempt to make body parts using stem cells.

Read more: Ears, noses grown from stem cells in lab dishes

Royal Free Hospital

A synthetic polymer nose, left, and ear are posed to be photographed at a research facility in the Royal Free Hospital in London, March 31, 2014.

While only a handful of patients have received the British lab-made organs so far— including tear ducts, blood vessels and windpipes — researchers hope they will soon be able to transplant more types of body parts into patients, including what would be the world's first nose made partly from stem cells. "It's like making a cake," said Alexander Seifalian at University College London, the scientist leading the effort. "We just use a different kind of oven."

Royal Free Hospital

Professor Alexander Seifalian poses for photographs with a synthetic polymer nose at his research facility in the Royal Free Hospital in London, March 31, 2014.

Royal Free Hospital

Professor Alexander Seifalian speaks next to an automated dip coating machine with a synthetic mold of a windpipe inside at his research facility in the Royal Free Hospital in London, March 31, 2014.

The London facility is among several labs around the world, including in the U.S., that are working on the futuristic idea of growing custom-made organs.

Royal Free Hospital

Professor Alexander Seifalian poses for a portrait in his office at his research facility in the Royal Free Hospital in London,  March 31, 2014.