A TEAM of Oxford University scientists claim to have found a way to keep a liver 'alive' outside the body for up to 24 hours using a specially designed machine.

The 'normothermic machine perfusion process' maintains the liver at body temperature, supplying it with oxygenated blood, medication and nutrients - similar to a patient on life support.

When compared to a standard technique, it increased the number of livers suitable for transplant, preserved them for longer and reduced the amount of injury to the organ.

The findings were published in the journal Nature following a study by Oxford University's Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences.

Lead author David Nasralla said of the potentially ground-breaking study: "If these findings can be translated into clinical practice it could have a transformative effect on transplant waiting list mortality around the world."