Xenotransplantation
The inadequate supply of kidneys, livers, hearts, lungs and pancreata from deceased organ donors limits the lives that can be saved by allotransplantation. One potential solution could be the use of organs from animal donors, specifically pigs. The past two years has seen the first two geneticially modified pig heart and pig kidney transplants to patients in dire need of transplant. Although these first attempts did not achieve long term survival, much was learned from the experience that will guide further studies allowing the remaining barriers to success to be overcome.