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Updated: Jan 21, 2026
07:34
Quantification of Circulating Pig-Specific DNA in the Blood of a Xenotransplantation Model
Published on: September 22, 2020
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Regulatory barriers to xenotransplantation
Corbin E Goerlich1,2, Joshua L Chan3, Muhammad M Mohiuddin1
1Department of Surgery, Cardiac Xenotransplantation Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Current Opinion in Organ Transplantation
|July 31, 2019
Summary
Xenotransplantation offers a solution to organ shortages, with recent advances in gene editing and immunosuppression showing promise in preclinical models. Regulatory frameworks are developing to guide ethical human xenotransplantation trials.
Area of Science:
- Organ transplantation
- Xenotransplantation
- Medical ethics
Background:
- The critical shortage of human organs for transplantation necessitates alternative solutions.
- Xenotransplantation, using animal organs in humans, is a potential strategy to address this demand-supply gap.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in xenotransplantation research.
- To summarize the current regulatory landscape for human xenotransplantation.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature on xenotransplantation.
- Analysis of global regulatory guidelines and recommendations from organizations like the WHO.
Main Results:
- Gene-editing technologies and novel immunosuppression regimens have led to successful xenotransplantation in nonhuman primate models for various organs (pancreas, heart, lung, kidney, liver).
- The World Health Organization (WHO) and World Health Assembly advocate for establishing regulatory bodies to oversee human xenotransplantation studies.
Conclusions:
- Xenotransplantation shows significant preclinical promise but requires careful consideration of safety and ethical issues.
- Developing robust regulatory frameworks is crucial for the responsible advancement of xenotransplantation toward clinical trials.
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