Phatscotty wrote:TA1LGUNN3R wrote:http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-04-ucla-transplant-patient.htmlSo UCLA did a hand transplant on this woman, about 5 years after she lost her original. I find this extremely exciting, and in fact this is one of the fields I obviously have much interest in (not so much the surgery but the research). It's a clinical trial, so they're pretty much testing techniques and attempting to maximize the chances that the hand will be accepted and eventually become fully functional.
I'm working towards something in the biological field, like molecular biology/biogerontology/biomedical research--something like that, and the idea that we could make this a viable option for amputees thrills me to no end.
Anyway, discuss.
-TG
How long before this procedure becomes a "right"?
You'll notice there was a distinct lack of anything political in the title or op of my thread. Thanks.
Saf wrote:Yeah tails, I'm in the bioengineering field too. The problem with transplants is mostly genetic. Since everyone has different genetic code, I don't really think that a transplant with no rejection will be possible. Artificial organs have a good deal of research behind them, I think that it could be viable to grow more than just organs, but ETA would probably still be 50+ years as there are significant problems with synthetic scaffolds right now.
Yeah from what I've read that option would make things a lot easier, but as you said, tech like that is still in its infancy. However, you never know, some Einstein in the field could come along and move this right along.
-TG
