World's first human head transplant scheduled for 2017

BEIJING: An Italian-Chinese medical team plans to perform the world's first head transplant on a 30-year-old Russian computer scientist in China and the proceedure may take place by December, 2017.

Dr Sergio Canavero, an Italian neurosurgeon, plans to perform the procedure which is expected to last up to 36 hours.

Valery Spiridonov, who was diagnosed with a genetic muscle-wasting condition called Werdnig-Hoffmann disease, has volunteered for the procedure despite the risks involved.

It will require Spiridonov's head be cooled as well as the donor's body to extend the period during which the cells can survive without oxygen, 'Fox News' reported.

Canavero, who previously announced he will attempt to transplant a human head to a new body, will partner with Ren Xiaoping, a Chinese surgeon with the second affiliated hospital of Harbin Medical University, on this ultimate medical challenge.

"When I realised that I could participate in something really big and important, I had no doubt left in my mind and started to work in this direction," Spiridonov told CEN.

"The only thing I feel is the sense of pleasant impatience, like I have been preparing for something important all my life and it is starting to happen," he said.

"According to Canavero's calculations, if everything goes to plan, two years is the time frame needed to verify all scientific calculations and plan the procedure's details," Spiridonov said.

"It isn't a race. No doubt, the surgery will be done once the doctor and the experts are 99 per cent sure of its success." he said.

The operation is aimed at restoring independence of severely disabled people.

"Once I get it back I'll see what the life of a healthier person looks like," Spiridonov said.