A group including the Jikei University School of Medicine is planning Japan's first clinical research to temporarily transplant pig kidneys into fetuses with severe kidney disease until they can undergo other treatments after birth. Understood. The group aims to apply to a government-certified committee within the year.
A group led by Professor Takashi Yokoo of Tokyo Jikei University School of Medicine is planning clinical research.
According to the group, the research plan is to transplant fetal pig kidneys into fetuses with Potter syndrome, whose kidneys don't work before they're born and can't produce urine, until after birth they can be treated with artificial dialysis. This means that we are aiming for a temporary treatment.
Rejection is a major issue with xenotransplantation, in which animal organs are transplanted into humans, but according to the group, fetal pig kidneys are less susceptible to rejection, and if artificial dialysis becomes possible, transplanted pig kidneys will be means to remove it.
On the other hand, since ethical issues have been pointed out with xenotransplantation, the group is proceeding with careful preparations while keeping in mind whether it will gain the understanding of the public. We are aiming to apply to a nationally accredited committee within this year.
If xenotransplantation is actually performed, it will be the first time in Japan.
Chief Professor Yokoo said, ``I think this is a treatment that can give hope for life to children who don't have a cure.I want to move forward with this treatment while carefully examining three aspects: safety, effectiveness, and ethics to see if it will be accepted by society.'' I am.