The project would lead to hybrid livers, consisting of pig livers partially repopulated with human cells, for transplantation into patients with liver failure.
Today there is a severe shortage of human organ donors.
In the United States, approximately 4,000 liver transplants are performed annually. However, more than 14,000 high-priority patients are on the waiting list. As many as 50,000 patients could benefit each year from a liver transplant if the donor organs were available. The transplantation of pig livers could resolve this shortage. However, many of the proteins produced by pig livers do not function appropriately in humans.