Dr. Kass:
The scientific basis for his surgical procedure was initially developed in the animal laboratory and the results published in peer reviewed journals. Only after years of research was it applied to humans.

Open letter in support of Chuan-Guo Xiao:
Dr. Xiao performed groundbreaking animal research in the United States, demonstrating that a motor nerve that innervates the leg can be used to reinnervate the bladder and bowel. This reinnervation allows for development of a reflex to initiate bladder function. The results of his studies were published in peer-reviewed journals and other scientists have replicated Xiao’s findings confirming these results.
Dr. Xiao eventually took the courageous step of moving from animal research to human studies and began performing the rerouting procedure on patients with spinal cord injury and spina bifida in China.

Beaumont's paper:
Initial studies done in rats involved microanastomosis of the left L4 ventral root to the left L6 ventral root.[2,3] After scratching the skin surface afferent information travels through the intact L4 DR and initiates the reflex. Further studies have established this technique in higher taxonomic species,[4] and recently have been brought from bench to clinical practice in humans, involving microsurgical anastomosis of the L5 and S2/3 ventral roots.[5,6]

【the order of [4] and [5,6] should be reversed】

1994. Rats, peer-reviewed journal
Xiao CG, Godec CJ. A possible new reflex pathway for micturition after spinal cord injury. Paraplegia. 1994 May;32(5):300-7.
In order to restore bladder function after spinal cord injury, a controllable new reflex pathway has been established in rats.

1994-1996. NIH grant (R01DK44877) $207,679
http://taggs.hhs.gov/AwardDetail.cfm?s_Award_Num=R01DK44877&n_Prog_Office_Code=119
Issue Date: 11-09-1994

1995. Human trial started
http://www.globalforumhealth.org/realhealthnews/interviews/mar05_chinese%20neurologist.php
RealHealthNews: in 1995, in very restricted conditions, Xiao began operations on paraplegic miners at the Pingding Mountain Mine
http://www.westking.com/html/xbcf/2007/12/19/20071219112128.html
1995年5月16日，平顶山矿务局总医院骨科，美国州立大学长岛医学院医学博士肖传国正和该科主任杜茂信商量一个大胆的计划。

1999. Cats, journal
"Supported by grant R01 DK 44877-01"
Xiao CG, de Groat WC, Godec CJ, Dai C, Xiao Q. "Skin-CNS-bladder" reflex pathway for micturition after spinal cord injury and its underlying mechanisms. J Urol. 1999 Sep;162(3 Pt 1):936-42.
A "skin-CNS-bladder" reflex pathway for inducing micturition after spinal cord injury has been established in cat.

Human trials started in China one year after the rats result published, SIX MONTHS after the grant (R01DK44877) awarded for cats experiment ("higher taxonomic species"[4] cited by Beaumont's paper), and FOUR YEARS before cats result published (supported by R01DK44877).

What a COURAGEOUS step!