"The Courage to Succeed: Changing the Transplant Paradigm and the Pioneers Who Will Make it Happen"

Summary: This talk will address how transplant went from science fiction in the 1940s-50s to reality in the 1980s and back to science fiction in the current era! Akin to putting someone on the moon, the achievement of successful xenotransplantation will change how we look at what is possible in medicine and scientific innovation in general.

Objectives:

1) Discuss what it takes for world-changing innovation. Illuminate the massive scientific breakthroughs that were needed to make this a reality

2) Discuss the personality traits necessary to be a pioneer

3) Discuss the barriers to success in xenotransplantaion, including ethical challenges, scientific challenges, and infectious risks

4) Predict the future - what will the next 5 years look like, what will the decade after that look like