# Cancer-Fighting Animals Piglets As Human Immune System Boosters By Michael Plishka | Published 2008-10-17 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/piglets-human-immune-cells-marrow-umbilical-stemcells References: [ukpress.google](http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hYAMbWlpSjcgtHrI1sTUfJO2a_zA) & [telegraph](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid;=&xml;=/earth/2008/10/15/scipigs115.xml) Scientists are always looking for ways of being able to implant cells into humans that bypass the defense responses of the immune system. They are also looking for ways of creating stem cells that bypass the ethical issues of using human embryos. Dr. Jeffrey Platt and his team at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor have developed an approach that seems to do both. By taking stem cells from human umbilical cord blood and bone marrow and injecting it into a fetal pig, human [T cells](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T_cell) grew within the pigs, as did the pigs’ own cells. When the human cells were separated out, preliminary testing showed that these T cells should be accepted by the donor body, but further tests will be done to confirm this. These T cells could be used to [fight a myriad of infections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/antimicrobialresistant-infection) as well as to [attack cancer cells](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/advanced-genomic-techniques). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.1/10 - Popularity: 8% | Activity: 18% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Implanting Cells:** Using stem cells from umbilical cord blood and bone marrow to implant cells that bypass the immune system, creating opportunities in regenerative medicine. - **Ethical Stem Cells:** Developing stem cells from non-embryonic sources to address the ethical concerns surrounding stem cell research, presenting opportunities in medical advancements. - **Cancer-fighting T Cells:** Harnessing T cells grown within animals to fight infections and attack cancer cells, presenting potential breakthroughs in cancer treatment. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Regenerative Medicine:** Applying stem cell technology to develop novel therapies for tissue repair and regeneration that bypass the immune system. - **Biotechnology:** Developing ethically sourced stem cells and exploring their potential applications in medicine and disease treatment. - **Healthcare:** Integrating animal-based T cell research into cancer treatments and infection prevention, revolutionizing disease management and patient care. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Swine-Centric Cooling Pads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cooling-pad.md) - [Scar Tissue-Evading Implants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/medical-implant.md) - [Cultivated Pork Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cultivated-pork.md) - [American Cell-Cultured Porks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/forke-and-goode.md) - [Cell-Based Meat Manufacturing Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cytonest-cytosurge-3d-fiber-scaffold.md) - [Advanced Liver Cancer Treatments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/advanced-liver-cancer.md) - [Lab-Grown Reproductive Biology](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/testis-organoids.md) - [HIV Treatment Research Projects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plantbased-molecules.md) - [Innovative Vaccine Delivery Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/innovative-vaccine-delivery.md)