Study probes stance on animal-to-human transplants (1/27/2008)

A study by Queensland University of Technology has found people who would benefit from animal-to-human transplants (xenotransplants), baulk at the idea of receiving organs from animals otherwise destined for their dinner plate.

However, the research shows people are somewhat amenable to transplants from animals such as pigs, which are bred specifically for the purposes of harvesting organs, tissues and cells for humans.

Sociologist Peta Cook, from QUT's Humanities Research Program, has looked at how people, who would be potential xenotransplant recipients, feel about animal-to-human transplants.

Xenotransplantation (animal-to-human transplantation) involves transplanting or infusing living animal cells, tissues or organs into a human recipient with the view to improving their health.

"It offers a potential treatment for people with chronic health conditions such as Type 1 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, people on dialysis and people waiting for organ transplants," Ms Cook said.

"In general people didn't want to use animals that were bred and kept as pets, bred for food or free range, including wild animals."

She said while regulatory bodies and scientists working on xenotransplantation believed the public would not accept xenotransplants from nonhuman primates such as baboons and chimpanzees because they were too much like 'us', the research participants did not agree.

Ms Cook said the research participants generally indicated they were happy for any animal species to be used in xenotransplantation, as long as it was specifically created for that purpose.

With a moratorium on human clinical trials of xenotransplantation in Australia until December 2009 and the National Health and Research Council reviewing the ban at that time, Ms Cook said it was important for the public to have a say on the issue.

"There is difference of opinion between scientists and my research participants which demonstrates that scientists cannot speak for and represent the public," she said.

"Decision-makers and regulatory bodies need public input on novel and controversial technologies such as xenotransplantation, and should seek it from the primary source, namely the public themselves."

Ms Cook said the study also looked at the public's view on the risk of animal-to-human transplants.

"The primary concern is the unknown risks of cross-species viral transmission," she said.

"We are already familiar with HIV, SARS and the avian (bird) flu, the question is what risk could animal-to-human transplants have on the health of the individual recipient and the community."

Ms Cook said the vast majority of participants said while they were willing to accept risk to themselves they would not support xenotransplantation if there was any level of risk to the wider community.

Ms Cook said her PhD study was designed to involve the public and gather essential information about how the community viewed animal-to-human transplants to assist decision-makers to determine whether or not to proceed with the technology in Australia.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by the Queensland University of Technology

Post Comments: