First cloned pig dies in Brazil for organ transplantation; animal will be exhibited at the Zoology Museum

First pig cloned at USP reproduction/TV Globo The first pig cloned in Brazil, which is part of a study to develop organ transplants from animals to humans (xenotransplantation), was euthanized at the end of July. The information was confirmed to g1, this Saturday (8), by Ernesto Goulart, main researcher of the project and professor at the Institute of Biosciences at the University of São Paulo (USP). The animal was almost four months old, was considered very healthy and met all research objectives, the professor said. But it came to an early end by around two months due to a contingency of financial resources that the project has been facing – find out more below. ? Click to the g1 Piracicaba channel on WhatsApp According to Ernesto Goulart, the cloning technique in pigs is not common and the birth of this animal proved that the protocol created from scratch by the Brazilian team is working very well and can place Brazil in a prominent global position. "The objective was to monitor his health to find out if he was a healthy animal, if he would even develop sexual competence. And the animal met all the requirements. He was a very healthy animal", explained the professor, highlighting that, despite the anticipation, there was no harm to the research data. The pig was born at the Institute of Animal Science in Piracicaba (SP), a public research center, in April 2026. It was later transferred to the USP facilities in São Paulo. Now, the animal will undergo a taxidermy process, popularly known as 'stuffing', as it is considered a milestone in Brazilian science. It will be on display at the USP Zoology Museum, in São Paulo (SP). The team also recorded the birth of a second clone, who died the following day. The occurrence was foreseen within the technical challenges of cloning, the researcher pointed out. First cloned pig in Brazil was born in Piracicaba André Luís Rosa/EPTV Funding The project, which began operating between the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020, involves multiple institutions, required researchers to be trained in various parts of the world and has some sources of funding, such as the São Paulo and federal governments. However, progress has come up against the freezing of federal funding sources, which affects the maintenance of infrastructure, the payment of employees and the feeding of animals, the researcher pointed out. At the beginning of the year, the group had around 40 professionals, many of them doctors with extensive experience. Without the transfer of funds, part of the team was dismissed. "It's a huge loss because it's an intellectual asset that's very difficult to recover," warned Goulart. The Ministry of Health reported that the research group is part of the Brazil Genomes Program and the strategies to incorporate genetic and molecular advances into personalized treatments in the Unified Health System (SUS). According to the Ministry, the initiative is fully funded with resources from the ministry, which has already released R$6.15 million out of an approved total of R$11.6 million. The body highlighted that the amounts are transferred via CNPq (operational partner), as provided for in a public call, and that "the release is conditional on compliance with the target schedule, approval of the accounts for the steps already carried out and the budget availability for the current year". On the researchers' side, Goulart states that the team recognizes the goodwill and commitment of the agencies and the Ministry to try to resolve the situation, pointing out that the federal government understands the project as strategic, but that the release comes up against broad issues. Headquarters of the Ministry of Health in Brasília Rodrigo Coutinho/MS Next steps and the role of Brazil The researcher highlights that mastering cloning was an indispensable means of learning. The next stage is the production of genetically modified pigs, which will make human transplants possible. Similar technologies have been developed by the United States and China for around three decades, said the researcher. "We have the real possibility of making Brazil simply the third country in the world to be able to perform xenotransplantation in humans", assesses the USP professor. Despite the financial uncertainties, the researcher reports that the team remains confident in its ability to execute the next phases in a short space of time, just waiting for the funds to be released, and honoring the dream of the project's great mentor, professor Silvano Raia, who passed away on April 28 of this year.