Boston, MA – June 1, 2025 — In a major scientific advance, researchers at Tufts University and Harvard University’s Wyss Institute have successfully triggered the regrowth of functional limbs in adult frogs using a short, one-time treatment—a discovery that could one day revolutionize the treatment of limb loss in humans.
The study, published in Science Advances, focused on adult African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis), a species that, unlike salamanders or some fish, does not naturally regenerate lost limbs. In the experiment, the frogs were fitted with a soft, silicone-based enclosure called a BioDome, which was placed over the amputated limb site.
Inside the BioDome, a carefully formulated cocktail of five drugs was applied for just 24 hours. These compounds were chosen for their ability to:
- Reduce inflammation
- Prevent scar formation
- Promote nerve growth
- Encourage new blood vessel formation
- Activate stem cell pathways involved in regeneration
“We were amazed that just one day of treatment was enough to set in motion a months-long regenerative process,” said Dr. Nirosha Murugan, lead researcher on the project. “The regrown limb wasn’t perfect, but it was functional, with movement, bone structure, and even some sensory response.”
Over the next 18 months, the frogs developed limb-like structures that included muscle, bone, nerves, blood vessels, and toe-like projections—something never before seen in adult frogs.
The implications for human medicine are profound. Currently, human limb loss is permanent, with limited options beyond prosthetics. Scientists have long studied species with natural regenerative capabilities, but translating that knowledge to humans has proven difficult. This new approach offers a non-genetic, drug-based pathway that could bypass many previous limitations.
“This represents a huge milestone,” said Dr. Michael Levin, co-author and director of the Allen Discovery Center at Tufts. “It gives us a roadmap to guide limb regeneration in species with very limited natural capacity for it—including potentially humans.”
🧪 What’s Next?
The research team now plans to test the BioDome treatment in mammals, starting with rodents, to observe whether similar regenerative effects can be replicated. Human application is likely still many years away, but this proof-of-concept lays critical groundwork.
Experts in the field have responded positively, calling the study a “game-changer” in regenerative biology and a promising alternative to gene editing or stem-cell transplantation.
“This study redefines what’s possible in tissue regeneration,” said Dr. Jennifer Elisseeff, a regenerative medicine expert not affiliated with the study. “It’s a compelling step forward.”
As the search for solutions to limb loss and tissue repair continues, this frog study marks a hopeful beginning—proving that functional regeneration is possible, even in species that nature has seemingly ruled out.
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Published in: Science Advances
Institutions: Tufts University, Harvard Wyss Institute
Lead Researchers: Dr. Nirosha Murugan, Dr. Michael Levin
Tags: Regeneration, BioDome, Limb Loss, Biotechnology, Medical Innovation, Tufts, Harvard
