Projektseminar "Xenotransplantation"

The sourcing and allocation of the "scarce commodity" of donated organs is a significant societal challenge. One possible contribution to a solution of this problem could be xenotransplantation, i.e. the use of animal organs, tissues or cells for transplantation into humans. CELLS is a co-applicant of the successful Collaborative Research Center 127 on xenotransplantation.

In this seminar, we will use the actual challenges of the scientific work in this SFB to address concrete ethical and legal issues of xenotransplantation as it transitions from basic research to clinical practice, addressing in particular the following questions:

• What is the legal and moral status of animals in a post-xenotransplant society? How does this status come about and what does it mean?
• What kind of entities are xenografts - what kind of product classification and patient safety issues arise? What liability issues are involved?
• What safety issues and/or intellectual property and ownership issues arise?

• Melo, Helena, Brandao, Cristina, Rego, Guilhermina, Nunes, Rui Ethical and Legal Issues in Xenotransplantation: 2001
• Cengiz, Nezerith, Wareham, Christopher Simon Ethical considerations in xenotransplantation: a review: 2020
• Haddow, Gill, Bruce, Ann, Calvert, Jane, Harmon, Shawn, Marsden, Wendy Not “human” enough to be human but not “animal” enough to be animal – the case of the HFEA, cybrids and xenotransplantation in the UK: 2010