Salk Institute's Breakthrough: Human-Pig Chimera Embryos for Organ Transplants
Scientists at the Salk Institute have made a significant breakthrough in creating human-pig chimera embryos. This middle ground between growing human organs in animals and using stem cells could potentially solve the critical organ shortage crisis. The research, published in Cell and reported by National Geographic, offers hope for the 22 people who die daily in the U.S. due to lack of organ donations.
The team, led by Dr. Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, has developed a method to make pig embryos survive after injecting human cells. Out of 186 chimera embryos created, around one in 100,000 cells were human. This is a substantial improvement from previous attempts, which often resulted in embryo death.
The primary goal of creating these chimeras is to grow human organs in animals for transplants. By using the stem cells from a patient needing a transplant, researchers aim to grow organs that are a perfect genetic match, reducing the risk of rejection. This approach could revolutionize organ transplantation, as it addresses the persistent shortage of donor organs.
While the ban on federal funding for chimera research in the U.S. was lifted in August 2021, private funding has been instrumental in driving this research. Institutions like eGenesis are at the forefront of xenotransplantation research, with significant private investments and grants. The next step is to study these chimeric embryos to understand disease and human embryo development better. The ultimate goal is to create fully functional human organs in pigs for life-saving transplants.
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