Breakthrough: Genetically-Edited Pig Kidney Transplanted into Human
Historic Surgery Successful
Just over two weeks after doctors placed a genetically edited kidney from a pig inside Richard Slayman, the
62-year-old is recovering at home and relishing “one of the happiest moments” of his life, according to a
statement from the hospital that carried out the landmark four-hour surgery.
First Living Person to Undergo the Transplant
On March 16, Slayman became the first living person to receive this unprecedented transplant, according to
doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Rapid Recovery and Optimistic Outlook
In a statement Wednesday, the hospital confirmed that Slayman had been discharged and was “recovering well.”
The facility has credited “years of research, preclinical studies and collaboration” for the successful
surgery.
“This moment — leaving the hospital today with one of the cleanest bills of health I’ve had in a long time
— is one I wished would come for many years,” said Slayman in a discharge statement released by the
hospital. “Now, it’s a reality and one of the happiest moments of my life.”
A Journey of Trial and Desperation
Slayman, who works for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, battled kidney disease for more than a
decade. He had gone on dialysis and survived a human kidney transplant in 2018 but had since grown
desperately ill and was near despair.
Regulatory Clearance in Extraordinary Circumstances
As doctors planned the milestone surgery, they were required to seek approval from the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), which granted the surgery under its “compassionate use” rules. This approval is
granted in cases where a patient has a “serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition” and
there are no alternative treatments, according to the FDA.
Paving the Way for Hope: Impact on Kidney Patients
For the more than 550,000 kidney patients in the United States receiving dialysis, Slayman’s story offers a
glimmer of hope. Experts hope that, as this science advances, dialysis will one day become obsolete.
Challenges and New Solutions: Addressing Organ Shortage
As of February 2023, 88,658 people were on the waiting list for a kidney transplant in the United States,
according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Addressing the
inequalities in this field, medical advances, including the use of pig kidneys, aim to bridge the gap
between those waiting for transplants and the short supply of human organs.
Promising Advancements in Organ Modification
New technologies, such as CRISPR, a Nobel Prize-winning gene editing tool, have led to significant progress in
modifying organs to make them less foreign to a recipient, thereby reducing the chance of rejection.
The scientific community has also delved into Xenotransplantation, the implantation of organs from one species
into another, in a bid to expand the possibilities of organ transplantation.
Cautious Optimism for Xenotransplantation
Although significant advancements have been made, it is important to note that there have been cases of
unsuccessful transplants and associated challenges in the past, as highlighted by studies incorporating
animal organs.
