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Who is Valery Spiridonov? 5 things to know about Russian volunteer for first human head transplant

By Crystal Bonvillian
Aug 30, 2016

An Italian neuroscientist is making headlines after announcing plans to next year perform the world's first head transplant on a Russian man who has volunteered for the controversial operation.

Valery Spiridonov, 31, has agreed to allow Dr. Sergio Canavero, Chinese surgeon Dr. Xiaoping Ren and a team of about 80 other doctors to decapitate him and place his head on a donor body. Though Ren has reportedly performed the surgery, successfully, on a mouse and a monkey, it would be a first for the human race.

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Much has been written about Canavero, who first announced his plans last year. But who is Spiridonov? Here are five things to know about the man willing to go under the knife.

Explore>>READ MORE: How would a head transplant be done?

To learn more about the controversial and groundbreaking surgery planned to save Spiridonov's life, read the Atlantic's profile.

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Crystal Bonvillian
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