Reno-NL enables confident clinical translation through state-of-the-art ex vivo organ perfusion services that accelerate drug and medical device development.
UMCG
Spin-off
2025
Founded
30+
Years of expertise
500+
Publications
About Reno-NL
Your partner in (pre)clinical innovation
Reno-NL provides contract research services built on decades of pioneering and academic expertise in organ preservation and machine perfusion technologies, in particular ex vivo kidney perfusion. We aim to partner with pharmaceutical and medical device companies to generate clinically relevant data that supports translational research and product development.
Through a tailored, research-driven approach, we co-create study plans, offer flexible perfusion protocols, and perform high-quality testing using our 'living organ' models. Our expertise on machine perfusion combined with comprehensive downstream analyses, provides a powerful platform to evaluate drug efficacy, safety, and delivery strategies, and medical device performance under near-physiological conditions.
By bridging the gap between preclinical testing and clinical reality, Reno-NL helps partners make better-informed go/no-go decisions, reduce development risk, accelerate development timelines, and increase the likelihood of clinical and commercial success.
Research Domains
Fields of interest
We operate at the intersection of organ biology, pharmacology, and medical technology — delivering clinically relevant insights across three core domains.
Transplantation
Application of cold and warm kidney perfusion technologies using state-of-the-art machine perfusion platforms.
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Pharmacology
Human-relevant perfusion models for drug efficacy, kinetics and safety testing — reducing the cost and risk of late-stage failures.
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Medical Device
Realistic organ testing environments for health-tech and medical device companies, enabling functional validation closely replicating human physiological conditions.
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"We are a multidisciplinary team of professionals specialized in organ perfusion. By combining deep scientific expertise with advanced technology, we help partners accelerate medical innovations."
Prof. Dr. Henri Leuvenink
Co-Founder, Reno-NL · Professor of Experimental Transplantation Surgery, UMCG
Why Reno-NL
A collaborative, client-centered approach
We co-create tailored research strategies that align with your goals — from initial questions to final, clinically actionable outcomes.
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Human-relevant models
Our perfusion studies use porcine organs sourced from slaughterhouses, offering close physiological similarity to humans and high translational value, while reducing animal experimentation.
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Tailored co-creation
From initial concept to final outcomes, we work closely with each partner — adapting our approach to your specific research questions and regulatory requirements.
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Reduced R&D risk
We reduce risk, time, and costs across your R&D pipeline by enabling early, high-quality decision-making based on clinically relevant data and replacing less predictive preclinical models.
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Decades of expertise
Built on 30+ years of organ perfusion research at UMCG, our team brings unparalleled scientific depth and over 500 high-impact publications.
Partners & Collaborators
Trusted by leading institutions
Our work is embedded in a network of world-class research institutions, hospitals, and life science companies.
Ready to accelerate your research?
Let's discuss how Reno-NL can support your next project — from study design to high-quality, clinically relevant outcomes.
Home›Organ Perfusion Technology
Organ Perfusion Technology
A powerful preclinical screening platform — human-relevant, ethically driven, and scientifically robust.
Our Platform
A Powerful Preclinical Screening Platform
At Reno-NL, we apply advanced cold and warm organ machine perfusion protocols using ethically sourced surplus organs from slaughterhouse; fully aligned with 3R principles (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement). While our platform encompasses various organ systems, our primary focus lies on the kidney.
Our ex vivo experimental model is unique in that it utilizes viable ('living') organs that preserve native anatomy and physiology, including intact architecture, vascularization, and metabolic function. Due to the significant similarities between porcine and human organs, our model offers excellent translational value for the preclinical validation of various intervention strategies.
Furthermore, our platform enables dynamic, real-time monitoring of the interventions and their impact on organ function, perfusion characteristics, and key biological processes. This allows for in-depth evaluation under near-physiological conditions, providing robust insights into efficacy, safety, and mechanistic effects prior to clinical translation.
High-precision Control. Real-time Insights. Superior Predictability. Our platform integrates precise control of perfusion parameters with continuous, real-time monitoring of kidney function, renal hemodynamics, and urinary output. By combining tightly controlled experimental conditions with high-resolution functional readouts, we deliver superior data quality, enhanced reproducibility, and more reliable prediction of clinical outcomes.
Step by Step
The organ perfusion process
From controlled organ retrieval through to high-end analysis — our structured protocol ensures reproducible, high-quality data at every stage.
01
Organ Retrieval
The process begins with controlled removal of the organ. For preclinical studies, we use slaughterhouse-sourced organs. Rapid, careful retrieval ensures optimal preservation.
02
Cold Perfusion
Immediately after retrieval, the organ is connected to our cold perfusion system. A cold preservation solution keeps cells viable and minimizes damage, maintaining organ quality.
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Warm Perfusion
We mimic body conditions through warm perfusion. Oxygen and nutrients are circulated to recondition the organ, enabling real-time monitoring of kidney response to biomedical treatments.
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Analysis
High-end analysis of liquid samples (perfusate and urine) and tissue biopsies — including organ viability, disease markers, microscopy, pathway analysis, and PK/toxicological profiling.
Our Platform
Comprehensive Analytical Capabilities
To maximize the value of each study, Reno-NL combines perfusion experiments with state-of-the-art downstream analyses. This includes perfusion and organ function assessment, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) evaluation, biomarker analysis, histopathology, and molecular and biochemical characterization.
Interested in collaborating?
Tell us about your research question and we'll design a tailored organ perfusion protocol for your needs.
Home›Reno-NL Team
Reno-NL Team
An interdisciplinary team of highly trained scientists and professionals, committed to advancing cutting-edge research into real-world solutions.
Our Organization
About our organization
At Reno-NL, we are driven by a shared ambition: to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into clinical impact. Founded in 2025 as a spin-off and official licensee of the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Reno-NL builds upon decades of pioneering expertise in organ machine perfusion and transplantation research.
Our academically trained, multidisciplinary team combines world-leading knowledge in organ preservation, transplantation biology and engineering, pharmacology, and pathology. Highly motivated and innovation-driven, we partner with academia and life science industries in order to co-design and address complex scientific and translational challenges, delivering high-quality data and tailored research solutions that accelerate the path from discovery to clinical application.
Our Team
Meet the people behind Reno-NL
A unique combination of scientific expertise, clinical insight, and entrepreneurial drive.
Dr. Leonie Beljaars
Co-Founder · Pharmacology
Leonie brings extensive expertise in pharmacology, particularly in the fields of pharmacokinetics, targeted drug delivery, and liver disease. As COO, she combines scientific insight with hands-on project management experience to guide research initiatives, build strategic partnerships, and accelerate the translation of innovative science into practical applications.
Expertise: Pharmacology, drug development, liver pathologies, project management
As a leading expert in organ machine perfusion, Henri has extensive experience with ex vivo kidney models and organ preservation technologies. As Professor of Experimental Transplantation Surgery at UMCG, he has been instrumental in driving innovation in transplantation research, combining scientific excellence with a strong focus on clinical translation and collaborative development.
Expertise: Transplantation, in vitro/ex vivo models, machine perfusion
Petra leads Reno-NL's research operations and handles all practical aspects associated with our core technology. With a strong background in machine perfusion and associated biomedical analysis, she ensures precision and innovation in experimental methodologies.
Jan-Luuk, a specialist in kidney and vascular pathology, contributes his in-depth expertise to Reno-NL's research initiatives. As a professor in Experimental Vascular Pathology at UMCG, he ensures the highest scientific standards in our organ pathology and cell biology studies.
Senior experts who support Reno-NL with strategic guidance and deep scientific insight.
Stephan Leuvenink
Business Development
Stephan has a strong background in economics and a proven track record in founding successful companies. With deep expertise in entrepreneurship, business development, and sales, he combines strategy and execution to identify opportunities and build scalable, high-impact businesses.
Expertise: Entrepreneurship, business development, strategy
As Professor of Translational Biopharmaceutics (University of Groningen), Peter is a leading expert in ex vivo organ models and translational pharmacology. He pioneered the development and application of precision-cut tissue slices as highly predictive platforms for studying organ disease, fibrosis, drug efficacy, and toxicity. He has advanced human-relevant research models that facilitate the translation of scientific discoveries into clinical innovations.
Expertise: Translational pharmacology, ex vivo organ models, drug development
Whether you're an academic, pharma company, or med-tech startup — we'd love to explore what we can achieve together.
Home›News & Publications
News and Publications
A curated overview of our latest news and key publications, showcasing the developments, scientific impact, and innovations behind our work and services.
The scientific foundation of Reno-NL is built on the combined expertise and research track record of Professors Henri Leuvenink, Jan-Luuk Hillebrands, Petra Ottens, and Leonie Beljaars. Together, they have contributed to more than 500 peer-reviewed scientific publications spanning organ preservation, machine perfusion, transplantation, pharmacology, drug targeting, pathology, and translational medicine.
Reno-NL has been awarded a new Health~Holland grant for the PRO-kid project. More details to follow soon.
News · Grant · June 2026
Grant award — Health~Holland project Epi-Organ
Gene-targeted epigenetic reprogramming offers a novel approach to recondition donor kidneys, helping to qualify otherwise discarded organs for transplantation. This innovative work is supported by Health~Holland funding.
Members of the Reno-NL founding team took part in the NOM Start up Validation track program, sharing insights on building a science-driven spin-off and translating research into commercial impact.
Reno-NL formalises its position as an official licensee of the University Medical Center Groningen, securing access to decades of organ machine perfusion expertise and technology.
Reno-NL is closely connected with 34Lives through a strategic partnership, reinforcing its network and engagement in organ preservation and transplantation innovation.
The Reno-NL team is involved in a collaboration with Sencilia to test their RELY-V flow sensor prototype (developed during the SmartInfuus project) in a kidney perfusion set-up, demonstrating our medical device testing capabilities.
