Canadian researchers repaired donated lungs that were deemed too damaged to be transplanted using outside-the-body gene therapy.

A lot of extra research will be needed to see if these lungs function as well inside a body as they do inside a see-through life-support dome in the laboratory.

The researchers, though, are very hopeful that they can make more lungs available for transplant in people who need them desperately.

Dr. Michael Bousamra of the University of Louisville, who wasn't involved in the new project said, "This approach has the potential to change the way we do things."

The five-year survival for lung transplant recipients is hardly 50 percent which is much lesser than for heart, liver or kidney recipients.

Toronnto’s University Health Network new research aims to save the donated lungs which would otherwise be discarded.

The key to do this is to quickly put donated lungs on ice which would stop tissue deterioration and would prevent interleukin-10 from working. IL-10 is produced by genes which have the potential to cause damage to the lungs.

If IL-10 lasts long enough it could help protect against post-transplant inflammation too.