Scientists at Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College London reported a lab‑grown esophageal graft that replaced a full segment in growing pigs and restored coordinated swallowing without immunosuppression. The team decellularized donor porcine esophagi, repopulated scaffolds with autologous pericyte‑like myogenic precursors and fibroblasts, and implanted 2.5‑cm segments in minipigs. The Nature Biotechnology paper shows functional muscle regeneration and peristalsis in a growing large‑animal model, addressing a major hurdle for treating long‑gap esophageal atresia in newborns. Researchers said the approach could reduce the need for complex reconstructive surgeries and feeding‑tube dependence. The work represents a translational step toward personalized regenerative solutions for pediatric esophageal defects, with further safety and scale‑up studies required before clinical trials.