Since the 1970s preservation solutions for donor organs for transplantation have relied on hypothermic depolarising potassium to arrest the heart and protect the donor organ. Despite many studies investigating improvements in composition, no preservation solution has been able to provide adequate protection of the human donor heart beyond 4 – 6 hours. Suboptimal preservation and use of marginal organs, from a diminishing donor pool, have both been linked to poor clinical outcomes. The aim of this research was to develop a normokalaemic cardioplegic/preservation solution based on a novel combination of adenosine and lignocaine for use during donor heart harvest, cold storage and implantation. The performance of this normokalaemic AL preservation solution was compared with gold standard heart preservation solutions, Celsior and Histidine Tryptophan Ketoglutarate solution (Bretschneider’s solution, HTK or Custodial) in the isolated rat heart. Work is continuing to further develop this cardiac preservation solution for use with other preservation modalities and organs, particularly kidneys.