UK scientists grow and transplant lab-made food pipes into pigs, advancing treatment for esophageal defects

UK scientists have successfully grown and transplanted lab-made food pipes into mini pigs, offering hope for treating children with esophageal defects. The research involved using a pig's own cells on a scaffold to create a functional esophagus, which was then transplanted. This breakthrough could potentially eliminate the need for multiple surgeries in affected children. This advancement, which utilized Göttingen minipigs due to their size similarity to human children, could see human trials begin within five years.