Scientists Engineer Esophagus Restoring Swallowing in Pigs

Scientists at Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College London have developed the first lab-engineered esophagus using pig tissue and a recipient's own cells, a breakthrough that successfully restored swallowing function in pigs and holds promise for treating children born with severe esophageal defects. The study, published Friday in Nature Biotechnology, involved implanting the custom-grown organs into eight pigs, all of which survived the initial 30 days post-transplant, with five remaining alive after six months and demonstrating normal eating and growth.

The research targeted oesophageal atresia, a congenital condition affecting about 180 newborns in the UK each year, where the esophagus fails to develop properly, leaving a gap that prevents normal swallowing. In roughly one in ten cases, known as long-gap oesophageal atresia, the separation is too wide for immediate repair, requiring infants to rely on feeding tubes for months while awaiting surgery. Current options, such as pulling the stomach up into the chest to bridge the gap, often lead to complications including repeated operations, acid reflux into the lungs and long-term respiratory issues.