LAUSR

This year has seen significant changes to human cadaveric organ donation rates and the importance we place upon organ donation to fulfill the needs for transplantation. The requirement for donor organs appears to be increasing significantly yearafteryear as is the discrepancy between patients on the transplant waiting list and organ donation rates remain stagnant, or as seen this year due to the COVID19 pandemic has significantly decreased.1 In this review, we investigate and briefly present the effects that COVID19 has had on transplantation and very importantly the possible animal sources for human SARSCoV2 transmission. Additionally, how the FDA and regulators are taking measures to potentially regulate xenografts and products for xenotransplantation. We also look at how potential changes and advances to xenotransplantation have occurred, in particular the advancements to cardiac xenotransplantation. Significant advances have been made improving xenograft outcomes through the use of Tcell therapies and cytokines. Additionally, further evidence that modification of the donor pig including α1,3 galactosyltransferase are essential for xenograft success. The modern advances reviewed here are helping to bring clinical xenotransplantation closer to reality.