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Surgeons transplant pig lung into brain dead human recipient for first time | Medical research
Surgeons have transplanted a lung from a genetically modified pig into a brain dead human recipient for the first time and found it functioned for nine days, researchers have revealed.
The work is the latest development in a technique called xenotransplantation that is aimed at solving the organ shortage crisis: according to the World Health Organization, only up to 10% of the global need for such transplants is being met.
However, experts have stressed there is a long way to go before pig lungs can be used in patients.
Dr Justin Chan, a lung transplant surgeon for the NYU Langone Transplant Institute who was not involved in the work, described the study as “exciting and promising work”, but said the report concerned only one patient and was a “qualified success”.
“These lungs are not able to independently sustain a patient,” he added.
Andrew Fisher, a professor of respiratory transplant medicine at Newcastle University, agreed. “This work is very welcome in furthering our understanding, but it marks an incremental step forward. There is much more work required and we are not on the dawn of an era of lung xenotransplantation using pig lungs,” he said.
Xenotransplantation has become a hot area of research in recent years, with the heart, kidneys and liver among the organs that have been transplanted into humans from pigs. The latter are typically genetically modified by removing certain pig genes and inserting specific human genes, to reduce rejection of the organs by the recipient’s body.
Studies are often initially carried out on brain dead human recipients before, in some cases, being used in living patients. While there have been only a handful of living recipients, many have died within weeks or months of such surgery, albeit not necessarily from complications relating to the transplant. However, some with transplanted pig kidneys have survived with the organs still functioning several months after the procedure.
But experts say xenotransplantation using lungs is particularly tricky.
“Every breath you breathe in is bringing the external environment into the body,” said Fisher. This means the lungs need to be very capable of responding to attacks from pollution, infection and other sources. “So the immune system in the lung is very sensitive and very active, which means when you’re dealing with organ transplantation, where you know you don’t want the immune system to be very active, it poses extra challenges.”
Writing in the journal Nature Medicine, researchers in China reported how they transplanted the left lung from a Chinese Bama Xiang donor pig with six genetic modifications into a 39-year-old brain dead male recipient.
The team found the lung remained viable and functional over a 216-hour period and did not trigger hyperacute rejection – a rapid, violent immune response by the recipient’s body. There were also no signs of infection.
However, 24 hours after transplantation the lung showed signs of fluid accumulation and damage, possibly initially due to transplant-related inflammation. And despite the recipient being given powerful immunosuppressive medication, the transplanted organ was progressively attacked by antibodies, resulting in significant damage over time.
“The impact of the damage was likely underestimated [because] the human recipient still had one of their own lungs present and this would have compensated for the damaged porcine lung,” said Fisher.
Prof Peter Friend, from the University of Oxford, said the results were complicated by the fact brain death itself causes an acute inflammatory state. “So some of what they are seeing may be a function of the brain dead status of the recipient,” he said.
The researchers behind the work said the approach needed to be refined.
“Continued efforts are needed to optimise immunosuppressive regimens, refine genetic modifications, enhance lung preservation strategies and assess long-term graft function beyond the acute phase,” they wrote.
Friend said other approaches to increasing the availability of organs were being investigated, including remodelling donor organs using stem cells.
Some research groups are also exploring the possibility of growing humanised organs inside pigs or sheep.
Fisher added that while xenotransplantation for lungs held promise, another promising avenue was to treat human donor lungs deemed to be unsuitable for transplantation so they could be used.
“If we get that right, that’s something can be implemented within months, and certainly in years could be making very big differences,” he said.
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Michigan vs. Oklahoma live updates: Game score, analysis as Bryce Underwood leads Wolverines to face Sooners
NORMAN, Okla. — Michigan and Oklahoma face off in the marquee game of the week Saturday night in Norman. It’s been nearly 50 years since the Sooners and Wolverines last met on the football field when Hall of Famers Barry Switzer and Bo Schembechler were leading the programs at the time. Today, it’s a reunion for Michigan coach Sherrone Moore, who played for the Sooners previously when OU head coach Brent Venables was an assistant coach on the staff.
On the field, two of the more exciting quarterbacks in the country meet. Michigan freshman phenom Bryce Underwood debuted nicely last week with 251 yards and a touchdown, the highest yardage total by a freshman in Michigan history. Oklahoma’s John Mateer picked up where he left off at Washington State last season, breaking a record with 389 passing yards, the most by a QB in his Sooners debut.
Both teams have dreams of reaching the College Football Playoff and winning their respective conferences. Kickoff from Norman is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Keep it locked here as CBS Sports provides you with live updates, highlights and analysis as Oklahoma battles Michigan in a marquee Week 2 showdown.
No. 6 Oregon delivered one of the most lopsided wins in program history Saturday, blasting Oklahoma State 69-3 at Autzen Stadium behind a barrage of explosive plays and a suffocating defense.
The Ducks scored 65- and 59-yard touchdowns on two of their first three snaps, seizing control just 90 seconds into the game. By halftime, Oregon led 41-3 with 473 yards of offense — 230 through the air and 230 on the ground — and an eye-popping 13.1 yards per play.
Quarterback Dante Moore was nearly flawless in his second start, completing 16 of 21 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Noah Whittington emerged as the lead option, rushing for 91 yards and a 59-yard score.
Oregon’s defense matched the dominance. Freshman quarterback Zane Flores struggled in his first start for Oklahoma State, throwing for just 67 yards with two interceptions — both returned for touchdowns by Peyton Woodyard and Jerry Mixon on consecutive plays in the third quarter. The Cowboys managed only 161 total yards, with more than half of Flores’ output coming on a 35-yard completion to Christian Fitzpatrick that set up their lone points.
The 66-point margin marked the third-worst defeat in Oklahoma State history and the most lopsided loss of Mike Gundy’s tenure.
Quick hitters
Key Stats – Oregon
- QB Dante Moore: 16 of 21, 266 yards, T-career high 3 pass TDs.
- Ducks gained more yards on first 3 plays (130) than Oklahoma State had in the 1st half (123).
- Outscored Oklahoma State 41-3 in the first half, with more TDs (6) than OSU had first downs (5).
- 8 plays of 20+ yards in the 1st half (most in any half since 2017 vs. Oregon State).
Key Stats – Oklahoma State
- Failed to start 2-0 for the first time since 2016 (2nd-longest active FBS streak entering Saturday).
- Scored 3 points or fewer for the 6th time in 259 games under Gundy.
- Suffered 10th straight loss vs. FBS opponents (longest streak in program history, 4th-longest active FBS streak nationally).
- Allowed 41 points in the 1st half, most since giving up 44 to Oklahoma in 2015.
- QB Zane Flores (first collegiate start): 6 of 18, 61 yards, 2 pick-sixes.
Season Snapshot – Oregon
- Dante Moore (2025): 77.3% comp, 479 pass yds, 10.9 YPA, 6 TD-0 INT.
- Oregon offense (2025): 22 drives → 16 TDs, 1 FG, 2 punts.
Oregon Active Streaks (FBS Rank)
- Home wins: 17 (3rd)
- Regular-season wins: 20 (1st, program record)
- Wins vs. unranked teams: 33 (T-2nd)
- Nonconference home wins: 36 (1st)
- Home wins vs. unranked teams: 41 (2nd)
Largest Losses in Oklahoma State History
- 1904 vs. Oklahoma: 75 points
- 1907 at Oklahoma: 67
- 2025 at Oregon: 66
- 1946 vs. Oklahoma: 61
- 1970 at Oklahoma: 60
Most Points Allowed in Oklahoma State History
- 1904 vs. Oklahoma: 75
- 1946 vs. Oklahoma: 73
- 1996 at Texas: 71
- 2025 at Oregon: 69
Longest Active FBS Losing Streaks vs. FBS Opponents
- Kent State: 23
- Southern Miss: 14
- UMass: 13
- Oklahoma State: 10 (longest in program history)
Next Week
- Oregon at Northwestern
- Oklahoma State vs. Tulsa (after bye)
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Chicago federal intervention latest: President Trump’s immigration enforcement, possible National Guard deployment | Live updates
Despite fear in some Chicago communities over the expected surge in immigration enforcement, Pilsen held its Mexican Independence Parade on Saturday. There were some extra precautions taken in case federal agents showed up.
This year’s Pilsen Mexican independence Day Parade not only looked different, but felt different. A lot of the community and their supporters have concerns over the administration’s continued immigration enforcement.
“I just think we still need to be out here, and so we’re not scared and still show our heritage, and that we’re a proud people, and that we’re not scared of anything that’s going on,” paradegoer Jasmine Martinez said.
For a 24th time, the annual procession headed across 18th Street at noon as heightened security concerns loomed following the Trump administration’s threats to deploy National Guard troops and ICE agents to the city.
“I’m against goons and masked people, that’s like the KKK,” Pilsen resident Tom Sanchez said. “So, I’m here.”
Despite fear in some Chicago communities over the expected surge in immigration enforcement, Pilsen held its Mexican Independence Parade on Saturday.
Bands, colorful floats and dancers marched in the parade to noticeably smaller crowds.
According to the most recent census, Chicago’s Mexican-American community represents 21.5% of the city’s total population. The threat of federal intervention has turned what is usually a time of celebration to one of anxiety in Latino neighborhoods.
“It does seem a little bit less crowded than the last time we were here,” paradegoer Ben Snyder said.
While reports of ramped-up deportation efforts caused other celebrations to be canceled or postponed, organizers of Pilsen’s parade said they did not think their event would be targeted, but still staged safety volunteers armed with warning whistles along the short parade route as a precaution.
“Three continuous whistles, like this, will mean an ICE sighting,” said Vicky Lugo, parade organizer and Pilsen Chamber of Commerce board member. “A continuous whistle like this [means someone is getting arrested by immigration agents.]“
Some of Illinois’ elected official have rejected Trump’s plans.
“This is more than a parade today, this is a show of unity,” Congressman Mike Quigley said. “This is a reminder that there is more than unites us than divides us.”
The actual Mexican Independence Day falls on September 16, but celebrations will continue throughout the week, usually drawing hundreds of thousands of people. Where there were no issues at Pilsen’s parade this year, there are concerns about next weekend. That’s when the Little Village Mexican Independence Day Parade kicks off. There’s concern there could be some enforcement activity there.
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