Air Force Medical University's Xijing Hospital, located in Xi'an, successfully transplanted an entire liver from a genetically engineered pig into a brain-dead patient, on March 10.

The surgery was performed under the leadership of Dou Kefeng, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and member of the hospital's hepatobiliary surgery department; and Tao Kaishan, also a member of the hospital's hepatobiliary surgery department.

Dou Kefeng and Tao Kaishan perform the revolutionary transplant surgery. [Photo provided to en.xa.gov.cn]

During the surgery, the transplanted liver quickly resumed function, secreting bile without any signs of hyperacute rejection. According to a technological novelty search, this case is the first of its kind globally. At the time of writing, the liver has been working stably for over 96 hours.

This research not only validates the feasibility of genetically engineered pig-to-human liver xenotransplantation, but also achieved breakthroughs in multiple aspects, including scientific theory, core technology, and military medical applications. It holds immeasurable value for future research on functional restoration and transplant substitution, especially for vital organ transplants.

The liver from a genetically engineered pig is transplanted into a human patient. [Photo provided to en.xa.gov.cn]

Given China's large proportion of liver disease patients and the severe reality of organ shortages, the research and application of xenotransplantation are particularly crucial.

This breakthrough not only offers new hope for treating end-stage liver disease patients, but also provides a new direction for addressing the shortage of transplantable organs.

Doctors smoothly perform the transplant surgery. [Photo provided to en.xa.gov.cn]

Behind this breakthrough lies 11 years of relentless efforts and in-depth research by Dou and Tao's team. Before this surgery, previous experiments were conducted with pig-to-monkey liver xenotransplantation.

The success of this surgery marks a critical step towards the clinical application of xenotransplantation. It also provides a solid theoretical foundation and practical experience for future clinical use. With its outstanding scientific strength and innovation capability, the hospital has contributed a Chinese solution to the development of the global xenotransplantation field.

In the future, as the technology continues to improve and research deepens, liver xenotransplantation is expected to bring hope to more patients, becoming an effective solution to the shortage of organ donors.