AsianFin -- A Chinese research team has successfully transplanted a gene-edited pig lung into a brain-dead human, marking a global first that could help ease the severe shortage of donor lungs, according to a study published on Monday in Nature Medicine.

Led by Professor He Jianxing of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, the team transplanted the left lung of a genetically modified Bama miniature pig into the recipient, simulating a common single-lung transplant procedure. The donor pig underwent six genetic edits designed to reduce immune rejection risks.

Post-surgery monitoring showed the transplanted lung maintained ventilation and gas exchange for nine days without signs of hyperacute rejection. No active infections were detected through parallel pathogen surveillance, the study reported.

“This achievement represents a key step forward in the field of xenogeneic lung transplantation,” He told Xinhua, adding that the rising global demand for transplants highlights the urgent need for alternative solutions.

International experts hailed the breakthrough as “a milestone” in xenotransplantation, a field exploring the use of animal organs to overcome critical shortages in human donor supplies.