51 Research Summary: Ethical Considerations Surrounding Xenotransplantation

Faculty Mentor: Matt Haber (Philosophy, University of Utah)

Xenotransplantation—the transplantation of animal organs into human recipients—has emerged as a potential response to the severe shortage of human organs. While this practice offers promising avenues to save countless lives, it raises substantial ethical, societal, and scientific questions. Unlike conventional animal research, which aims to broaden therapeutic possibilities or advance biomedical knowledge, xenotransplantation, particularly breeding animals solely for organ harvesting, invites scrutiny around the ethical limits of instrumentalizing animal life. This focus on animals as a renewable resource for human benefit challenges societal values and ethical standards, prompting a reexamination of whether animals are reduced to mere commodities without intrinsic worth. This project will critically examine the ethical boundaries implicated in xenotransplantation, seeking to assess the broader societal and scientific ramifications of using animals strictly for organ production. The work will explore how such practices influence public perception, affect regulatory landscapes, and could shape the future of biomedical innovation. By addressing these issues, this research aims to spark a much-needed discourse on the moral boundaries of scientific progress. The outcomes will contribute to a more ethically-informed approach to xenotransplantation, providing valuable insight into the moral considerations that should guide future biomedical developments.