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Italian Neurosurgeon Talks Of Head Transplant By 2017 Kidney transplants have become routine, and heart transplants are increasing in prevalence with huge success rates. But, there's a whole new school of thought coming our way, and some of it sounds incredible.

By Kareem Chehayeb

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

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Kidney transplants have become routine, and heart transplants are increasing in prevalence with huge success rates. But, there's a whole new school of thought coming our way, and some of it sounds incredible, if not impossible. Valery Spiridonov, a 30 year-old Russian man who suffers from Werdnig-Hoffman Disease, has been in touch with Italian neurosurgeon Dr. Sergio Canavero, who hopes to perform the first head transplant by 2017. Spiridonov believes that this transplant, albeit a risky one, is his only hope to escape the rare neuromuscular disease. According to various news reports, it looks like the surgical operation will require a team of 100 and cost an estimated US$15 million. The risks appear endless, and many other medical workers believe that it will also take a while before Dr. Canavero, who is also Director of the Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group, can perform the surgery he claims has a 90% chance of success.

Kareem Chehayeb

Former Columnist & Online Liaison, Entrepreneur Middle East

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