The Technology of Head Transplantation

Dedication

Preface

Chapter 1. Head Transplantation: Back to the Future
(S. Manjila, MD, Department of Neurosurgery, Mclaren Bay Region Medical Center, Bay City, Michigan USA)

Chapter 2. Spinal Cord Transection
(S. Canavero, MD, and X. Ren, MD, HEAVEN/GEMINI International Collaborative Group, Turin, Italy, and others)

Chapter 3. Gemini: Anatomical Foundation
(S. Canavero, MD, and X. Ren, MD, HEAVEN/GEMINI International Collaborative Group, Turin, Italy, and others)

Chapter 4. Gemini: Overview of Fusogens
(I. Ryan and P. W. Henderson, MD, Microsurgical Research Society, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, US)

Chapter 5. Fusogens: The Engine of Recovery
(X. Ren, MD, M. Li, MD, X. Zhao, MD, Z. Liu, MD, S. Ren, MD, X. Zhang, MD, and S. Canavero, MD, Department of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital, Nanning, China, and others)

Chapter 6. Spinal Cord Fusion in Rodents and Dogs
(C. Y. Kim, DVM, PhD, Jieun Baek, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea)

Chapter 7. Spinal Cord Fusion in Primates
(X. Ren, MD, M. Li, MD, X. Zhao, MD, Z. Liu, MD, S. Ren, MD, X. Zhang, MD, and S. Canavero, MD, Department of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital, Nanning, China, and others)

Chapter 8. Electrical Stimulation
(S. Canavero, MD, and X. Ren, MD, HEAVEN/GEMINI International Collaborative Group, Turin, Italy, and others)

Chapter 9. Brain Protection during Cephalosomatic Anastomosis
(X. Ren, MD, G. Kasdaris, MD, and S. Canavero, MD, Department of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital, Nanning, China, and others)

Chapter 10. Tolerogenesis: An Overview
(S. Canavero, MD, and X. Ren, MD, HEAVEN/GEMINI International Collaborative Group, Turin, Italy, and others)

Chapter 11. Pre-, Intra- and Post-operative Procedures
(X. Ren, MD, M. Li, MD, X. Zhao, MD, Z. Liu, MD, S. Ren, MD, X. Zhang, MD, and S. Canavero, MD, Department of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital, Nanning, China, and others)

Chapter 12. Stairway to Heaven
(J. A. Cuoco, DO, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Roanoke, Virginia, US)

Chapter 13. Escape from Heaven?
(E. Rosati, MD, Scientific Journalist, Milan, Italy)

Index

In 1970 American neurosurgeon Robert White and his team carried out the first full head transplant in living monkeys. However, the resulting chimera was left tetraplegic and died a few days later. Fifty years on, the technology to perform a human cephalosomatic anastomosis is finally available. In this groundbreaking book, the pioneers of this new medical frontier bring together an international team of scientists to reveal for the first time the entire body of animal and human research and experimentation that made this breakthrough possible. Readers – professionals, journalists, educated laypersons- will get unadulterated access to the published and unpublished body of evidence that has shocked the world since 2013. Only a deep appreciation of this technology can inform the ethical debate that keeps raging on since 2013. Above all, the possibility of extending life raises profound dilemmas. This book brings clarity to the current debate and provides the instruments to make an informed decision on the most sensitive of subjects: overcoming death.