Pig organ transplants for humans in three years

[okarol]

Pig organ transplants for humans in three years

By Mike Swain, Science Editor 7/11/2008

Pig organs genetically-modified for use in transplants to humans could be ready in three years.

Lord Robert Winston, who heads a team working to develop a new strain of mini-pig with a heart, kidney and liver the human body will not reject, yesterday said: “This is very exciting technology. He added: “Potentially we could have organs which might be transplantable in two or three years.”

But Lord Winston warned that because of the rigorous testing that was necessary the first hospital transplants were probably a decade away.

He said: “If you are going to put organs back into humans you have got to be pretty sure you are not making a mess. And that will take a lot of testing.”

But, Lord Winston said, once the system was working the genetically-altered pigs could be bred to provide a limitless supply of organs.

He added: “Essentially if you wait for a transplant you wait for someone to die in a car crash. The pig offers some special possibilities.”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/tm_headline=pig-heart-transplants-for-humans-in-three-years&method=full&objectid=20874960&siteid=115875-name_page.html

[RichardMEL]

here we go again with this merry-go-round....

I love how the headline is "in three years" then even the doc involved says it won't be at least ten years until it might be a reality for the regular folks due to testing etc (all of which I have no problem with - If I'm going to get Porky's kidney I want it to work!!) but as usual the headlines don't tell the whole story....

[Sluff]

We already use pig heart valves. My Dad had a choice 15 or more years ago when he had a valve replaced in his heart. I know we are talking different body parts but I don't think we are that far off the mark of utilizing animal organs.

[Chris]

The hope of xenotransplantation in 3 to 5 years is doubtful to me.. I think it is the University of Minnesota that has been growing modified pigs for the last few years that have human dna spliced in. The ethics committee in te US is afraid of new viruses that maybe unleashed with these new pigs and so far against xenotransplantation without further scientific facts. CBS had a story on this a few years ago that I used in a report for class and keep reading articles and books about it. American Transplant Association usually has a story regaring this topic and probably have one in their next issue with this report.
If Xenotransplantation occurs on a regular basis, ten where's our flying cars

[BigSky]

Just wondering if this is going to be done in a way where its possible that people who have such transplants do not have to be subject to taking all the immune suppression drugs?

[Chris]

Just wondering if this is going to be done in a way where its possible that people who have such transplants do not have to be subject to taking all the immune suppression drugs?

That is the plan from the information I have been reading, but I'm not willing to be a guinea pig either.

[petey]

Marvin and I have researched all types of things dealing with transplantation.  Marvin's lead nephrologist at Duke Hospital (Durham, NC) mentioned to him about 10 years ago that pig kidneys were being experimented with.  The doc said at that time, "We've had a pig kidney survive and function in a human body for six days."  Marvin said, "When you get one to last for six months, call me and I'll look into it then."  Doc hasn't mentioned it since (and that was a decade ago).