by David White, interviewed by Cory SerVaas

About the author: David White is cofounder and research director of Imutran, a biotechnology company based in the United Kingdom.

Edward Jenner ran into resistance when he first tried to popularize smallpox inoculation because the vaccine he used was derived from cows. Opponents to the lifesaving inoculation published derisive cartoons of children with cows’ horns growing from their heads. Today, researchers are running into a similar problem trying to expedite the use of pig organs for human transplantation.

The Potential to Save Countless Lives

At this moment, over 50,000 people are on the national waiting list for an organ transplant, yet most won’t receive one. Nearly 10 people die each day waiting and hoping for a lifesaving organ. And the need for organ transplants will only grow as the baby...