A human organ transplant and research center was established in Shanghai Wednesday.

The Shanghai Organ Transplant and Research Center, based at the Shanghai No.1 People's Hospital, is designed to focus on research into and transplantation of all human parts, including corneas and fingers.

The hospital, which boasts some of China's best-known medical experts, began organ transplant surgery in the 1970s, and has since carried out more than 1,500 such operations, involving livers, kidneys, marrow, pancreases, etc.

The hospital is famous for its high rate of success in transplant operations, with one of its recipients of a kidney transplant living for a further 23 years.

(Xinhua 06/07/2001)