Pig hearts could be adapted for human use within just three years, the surgeon who pioneered heart transplantation in the UK has revealed.

Axar.az reports Sunday Telegraph that Sir Terence English, 87, performed Britain's first-ever successful heart transplant 40 years ago, and now believes 'xenotransplantation' (transplanting organs or tissue from one species to another) could be the next step.

English said his mentee from the groundbreaking 1979 operation will attempt to replace a human kidney with a pig's before the end of this year - something he thinks could pave the way for similar, yet more complicated organ transplants.

He told the newspaper: "If the result of xenotransplantation is satisfactory with porcine kidneys to humans then it is likely that hearts would be used with good effects in humans within a few years.

"If it works with a kidney, it will work with a heart. That will transform the issue."

English added: "There will be animal rights people who will say it's entirely wrong.

"We'd be hard-pressed to put a modified organ into a human until it's been tested in a large animal."

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Date 2019.08.19 / 14:32

Author Axar.az

Share

See also

	Scientists develop a drug that trains the immune system
	Early smoking increases cancer risk up to 4 times
	Chikungunya fever is spreading rapidly in South China
	Harmanci: COVID-19 still present, caution needed
	Millions at risk as US ends AIDS funding - UNAIDS report
	Smart hydrogel developed to heal chronic wounds faster
	WHO pushes bold reforms, launching 3 by 35 initiative
	Scientists discover new coronavirus
	Azerbaijan performs first deceased donor organ transplants
	Fifty countries affected by USAID freeze - WHO

Latest

Tokayev receives Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade

18:50

Turkiye's intelligence chief visits Syria

18:30

Driver rams car into FBI building gate in Pittsburgh

18:10

Dejan Milovanovic, former Red Star captain, passes away

17:54

Pope Leo holds audience for Armenian Catholicos Karekin II

17:35

Weather forevast for September 18

17:13

Navalnaya says foreign tests show her husband was poisoned

16:54

China slams Israel’s Gaza offensive

16:35

Iran foreign minister to hold call with European counterparts

16:13

Trump arrives in Windsor to meet Royals on state visit

15:54

NDU hosts meeting with delegation from Bangladesh - Video

15:34

U.S.: Do not travel to the border region with Azerbaijan

15:12

Japan won’t recognize a Palestinian state

14:53

Torrential rains kill 15 dead in India

14:32

Six Champions League matches scheduled for today

14:12

Ukraine reports Russian losses on Day 1302

13:50

Georgia pays off 'historic debt' to Azerbaijan

13:30

Deputy Israeli envoy congratulates Qarabag

13:10

Trump, Epstein images projected onto Britain’s Windsor Castle

12:54

Pashinyan comments on Trump’s Washington meeting post

12:34

Israel announces temporary route to flee Gaza City

12:13

Ilham Aliyev thanks Donald Trump

11:53

Ilham Aliyev congratulated FK Qarabag

11:40

Iran executes man accused of spying for Israel

11:34

Global oil prices continue to rise

11:13

Benfica sacks head coach Bruno Lage after Qarabag loss

10:54

Gas leak explosion in Iran kills 5, injures 2

10:34

Self-confidence of Qarabag players helped them win

10:13

Trump shares a photo of historic Aliyev–Pashinyan meeting

09:53

EU may suspend trade benefits for Israel – Kallas

09:33

Xocalı soyqırımı — 1992-ci il Bağla