*_mei ni_*

Professor Robert Winston of London's Imperial College and his collaborator, Dr Carol Readhead of the California Institute of Technology are currently involved in an ongoing research project on organ transplants from pigs into patients. Pigs are often identified as ideal for animal-to-human transplants, xenotransplantation and other research due to similarities in the psychological make-up as well as the infection of diseases. As human immune systems demonstrate fast responses to foreign bodies, the genetic make-up of pigs needs to be modified through a humanization process. The end result of the process would be a much reduced response provoked in the patient’s immune system. However, it would be necessary for patients who receive pig organs to take immune suppressant drugs for the rest of their lives, but at a smaller amount compared to those receiving organ transplants from other people. Professor Winston also commented that these transplantable organs will be available within two to three years if the research proceeded smoothly. The possibility of fully licensed and tested pig organs could be within a decade.

References

The Straits Times. (2008, Nov 8). Tech & Science: Pig Organs for Humans? Retrieved from November 8, 2008 from       http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Tech%2Band%2BScience/Story/STIStory_299887.html