section_path: Research and development/Colossal Biosciences (USA) & University of Melbourne (Australia)
section_name: Colossal Biosciences (USA) & University of Melbourne (Australia)
paragraph_text: Colossal Biosciences (USA) & University of Melbourne (Australia)
  
  In 2021, a start-up company founded by Benn Lamm and George Church, Colossal Biosciences began research and development of artificial animal wombs to further de-extinction and conservation efforts for species such as the woolly mammoth and northern white rhinoceros. An artificial womb is also necessary in reviving a species with no suitable living surrogate species such as Steller's sea cow or sabre-tooth cats Colossal in collaboration with the University of Melbourne have also developed artificial marsupial pouches as part of their de-extinction project of the thylacine. In January 2025, Colossal and University of Melbourne claimed to have developed a prototype artificial marsupial womb that has reached mid-gestation of single-celled marsupial embryos in order to further the de-extinction of the thylacine, eliminating the need for fat-tailed dunnart surrogates. In addition, these technologies could be used for increasing populations of endangered marsupials such as Tasmanian devils or koalas.