Head transplants can take place in China

Two transplant specialists are Italian doctors and Chinese colleagues who decided to cooperate in making the world's first human head transplant.

China is the place where the first transplants took place

In an interview with Xinhua during a scientific conference in Heilongjiang Province, China in late July, Italian doctor Sergio Canavero said he would cooperate with Ren Xiaoping, a surgeon at Harbin University Medical Hospital. New.

"First transplants will change the history of humanity, it will cure existing diseases that cannot be cured," Canavero said. "Ren Xiaoping is the only person in the world who is capable of leading the project."

Dr. Ren, 53, from Harbin, studied and worked in the United States for more than 15 years before leaving the position of Cincinnati Medical University lecturer three years ago. He was called "Dr. Frankenstein" by his colleague, the character in the famous fantasy novel by writer Marry Shell, often publicized during Halloween. He successfully implanted the head of one rat to another in 2013. This year, Ren intends to experiment on primates.

Ren Xiaoping (left) and colleague Canavaro.(Photo: Xinhua).

Ren and colleagues made nearly 1,000 mouse-head transplants. They tried many different methods, helping mice live longer after the surgery. I live for as long as one day.

Canavero said Ren's transplant and post-operative experiences attracted him to invite Chinese colleagues to join the head-transplant project. The two plan to set up an international medical team. Valery Spiridonov, a Russian computer engineer with spinal muscular atrophy, volunteered to be the first patient.

However, both anatomists concede, to prevent the body from eliminating the implant, requiring a lot of technical challenges, when joining the nerve, blood vessels and spinal cord system.

1. Head implant - the conquest of pioneering anatomists
2. 5 questions about head transplant

Dr. Ren assessed, Canavero has deep experience in central nervous system regeneration. To prepare for the surgery, they had to calculate the surgical machines, instruments, medicines and special methods. The project needs at least two years to complete, if provided with sufficient costs and manpower.

In addition, the project also depends on the country licensed to operate, as well as funding, Ren said.

"China has not decided. The transplant team may invite more foreign experts," Ren said, noting that there are no specific laws prohibiting transplantation in China.

The first transplanted head in the world took place in 1970, when the American neurosurgeon Robert J. White connected one monkey head to another. The monkey only survived for a few days because of transplant rejection.

Argumentative

Wang Yifang, an expert in medical ethics, Peking University said that there are many ethical aspects that need to be rigorously evaluated before a head transplant.

Valery Spiridonov, a Russian engineer, volunteered to be the first patient to receive a head transplant.(Photo: Telegraph).

"It is very complicated. The implant is yours, but the body of another person. So, what is it?" he asked questions. "Assuming that a transplant is feasible, but the use of a donor body - there are many healthy organs, while it is possible to transplant for many different people, is now only used for a person who seems In addition, who will be the donor? "

Dr. Hunt Batjer, a member of the American Society of Neurosurgical Surgeons, commented on CNN: "I wish this would not happen to anyone. I will not allow anyone to perform the surgery. This is with me because there are many things worse than death. " According to Batjer, pairing the head with a different body (including the spinal cord, veins, etc.) can result in a madness or insanity that has never been before.

1. First transplants received a lot of funding

However, Ren protected the transplant, claiming the project was thoughtfully thought out. He hopes, it will help those who suffer from spinal cord injuries, cancer or healthy muscular atrophy again in the future.

People have criticized and opposed the first hand transplant. However, they accepted it, after the transplant was successful.

"Head implants are a sensitive and controversial issue. However, as a scientist, we certainly do not give up just because it is controversial," Ren said.