The Young Investigator Committee of the International Xenotransplantation Association—Perspective of advancements in the field in 2023

Abstract

AbstractThe 2023 IXA conference, hosted in San Diego, CA, brimmed with excitement against the backdrop of recent innovations in both the pre‐clinical and clinical realms with several first‐in‐human applications of xenotransplantation. The theme, “Pigs are flying,” alluded to the adage that xenotransplantation would only become a clinical reality “when pigs fly,” suggesting a day that might never come. The event witnessed significant attendance, with 600 participants—the highest in the history of an IXA‐IPITA joint congress. Among the attendees were members of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and corporate sponsors deeply engaged in the field. We summarize the latest topics from the congress, ranging from the pros/cons of decedent models of xenotransplantation and genetic engineering of porcine heart valves, solid organs, and cells for clinical translation and their regulatory and ethical landscape.