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Lab-Grown Oesophageal Grafts Show Promise for Human Trials

3/21/2026

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Summary

Story summary

UK scientists report in Nature Biotechnology that they grew lab-created oesophageal grafts and transplanted them into eight mini pigs.
The grafts used a donor pig's oesophagus as a scaffold, populated with the recipient's cells.
After six months, five of the eight pigs survived with functional muscle and nerves in the grafts.
Casey McIntyre, a two-year-old with 11 cm missing from his oesophagus, underscores potential human trials within five years.

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Story summary

UK scientists report in Nature Biotechnology that they grew lab-created oesophageal grafts and transplanted them into eight mini pigs.
The grafts used a donor pig's oesophagus as a scaffold, populated with the recipient's cells.
After six months, five of the eight pigs survived with functional muscle and nerves in the grafts.
Casey McIntyre, a two-year-old with 11 cm missing from his oesophagus, underscores potential human trials within five years.