Pioneering biomedical science technique trialled
Thursday 20th November 2008
A woman has become the first person in the world to receive a laboratory-engineered whole organ transplant.
Biomedical scientists took stem cells from Claudia Castillo and used them to create an artificial airway which replaced the trachea to her left lung.
She required a new one because her own had been badly damaged after she contracted tuberculosis and she was at risk of losing her lung.
Surgeons in Spain performed the operation, which saw a new windpipe - which had been constructed using an organ donor's as a base - implanted into the patient.
The 30-year-old is now said to be in good health.
By using Ms Castillo's own cells, the doctors were able to trick her immune system into thinking the donated trachea was part of her own body, thus reducing the risk of rejection.
In other industry news, a specialist biomedical science research unit is to be constructed in the UK.
Called Pfizer Regenerative Medicine, the centre will focus on stem cells and their uses in regenerative medicines.
Mediplacements are specialists in recruiting for UK Medical Jobs
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