Scientists are making significant progress in understanding how to make the human body more receptive to organ donations from other species, potentially alleviating the ongoing shortage of organs for transplantation. With over 100,000 people on the transplant waiting list in the US and an average of 17 deaths per day while waiting, the need for viable alternatives has become dire.

One potential solution gaining attention is xenotransplantation, the transplantation of organs from genetically modified pigs into humans. Although still in the early stages, researchers believe that their recent findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, could bring human trials closer.

The study, conducted by doctors at the University of Alabama-Birmingham's Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, involved transplanting genetically modified pig kidneys into three brain-dead individuals. Remarkably, the researchers were able to utilize FDA-approved drugs commonly used in human-to-human organ donations for this procedure.

In order to prevent organ rejection, patients undergoing any type of transplant, whether from another human or an animal, must receive medications that suppress their immune system. Additionally, patients vulnerable to infection may require additional therapy for protection against encapsulated bacteria such as Neisseria meningitidis, the cause of meningitis.

Comparing the results of two pig kidney recipients who received standard immune-suppressing drugs with an additional FDA-approved therapy called eculizumab, the researchers found that the combination yielded the best outcomes. Importantly, the study demonstrated that specialty or experimental drugs were not necessary for the transplantation process, making it easier to proceed with FDA-approved human trials.

Dr. Jayme Locke, the study's author and a professor of surgery at the Heersink School of Medicine, emphasized the importance of changing only one aspect at a time when moving this research into clinical practice. By utilizing medications widely understood and used by transplant professionals worldwide, the process becomes more scalable and accessible to a larger number of people in need of organ transplants.

While the study's findings are limited due to only three patients being involved, experts in the field have praised the research team for their innovative work. Although incremental in comparison to a previous study published in August, which demonstrated testing of this procedure using brain-dead donors, this study is a step forward in the field of transplants.

The urgent need for organ donations fuels the importance of advancements in this area. Dr. Mandy Ford, the scientific director of the Emory Transplant Center, described the study as a "major advance" that brings xenotransplantation closer to becoming a clinical reality. By utilizing an FDA-approved regimen, the research brings us one step closer to conducting clinical trials and offers hope for a sustainable solution to the critical organ shortage.

With further research and development, cross-species organ transplantation could potentially revolutionize the field of transplantation and provide a long-term solution to the organ shortage crisis, giving hope to thousands of patients waiting for life-saving transplants.