Professor Gabriel Oniscu explores the profound ethical and scientific dimensions of organ transplantation. Drawing from his extensive clinical and research experience, he reflects on the delicate balance between life and death, and the extraordinary gift that transplantation represents. His talk delves into innovations in organ preservation and the human stories that inspire advances in modern medicine. Professor Gabriel Oniscu is a transplant surgeon and academic, currently serving as the Head of the Transplant Division at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm. He earned his medical degree from the University of Medicine of Iasi, Romania, in 1993, and completed his PhD at the University of Edinburgh in 2003. Throughout his career, Professor Oniscu has held significant positions, including Director of the Edinburgh Transplant Centre and Transplant Advisor to the Chief Medical Officer in Scotland. His clinical expertise encompasses multi-organ transplantation and living kidney donation, with a particular research focus on innovative organ perfusion and preservation techniques aimed at enhancing transplant outcomes. In addition to his clinical and research endeavours, he presides over the European Society for Organ Transplantation, contributing to the advancement of transplantation medicine on a continental scale. Besides, Professor Oniscu has been engaged on the intersection between science and art at The Cell, and on discussions linked to address the challenges between human body’s limitation and ethical perspectives in the era of modern medicine. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx