Landmark pig coronary heart transplant was a giant leap ahead in 2022

On 7 January, a person with extreme coronary heart failure acquired a genetically modified pig’s coronary heart. Though he died two months later, the process marked a step in direction of xenotransplantation

By Grace Wade

On 7 January, David Bennett, a 57-year-old with terminal coronary heart failure, grew to become the primary particular person to obtain a genetically modified pig coronary heart. Whereas he died two months later, his surgical procedure nonetheless marked a big step ahead.

A number of months after Bennett’s process, surgeons at NYU Langone Well being in New York transplanted modified pig hearts into two brain-dead folks on life help. The hearts pumped blood for 3 days earlier than the researchers ended the examine.

Xenotransplantation, the usage of animal organs …