Scientists grow first lab-made esophagus for children with rare birth defect

Scientists have created the first lab-grown oesophagus, offering hope for children with a rare birth defect. The engineered tissue, grown using a pig's oesophagus as a scaffold and the recipient's own cells, was successfully implanted in pigs. These animals could eat normally for six months without organ rejection or needing immunosuppressants. This breakthrough could potentially provide a new organ for children born with long-gap oesophageal atresia within five years, using their own cells to avoid rejection and allow for growth.