A team of surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) has successfully conducted the first-ever transplant of a genetically-modified pig kidney into a living patient.
The operation, according to reports, was conducted for over four hours on Saturday on a 62-year-old man, identified as Richard Slayman from Weymouth,Massachusetts who has been suffering from end-stage kidney disease, and also battles with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
Facing the dire realities of organ scarcity, Slayman found hope in this innovative procedure after his previous human kidney transplant failed, and he was placed on dialysis.
The genetically-modified pig kidney used in the transplant underwent meticulous editing to remove harmful pig genes while incorporating specific human genes, to ensure compatibility and reduce the risk of rejection.
Dr. Tatsuo Kawai, a member of the surgical team, said that they hope with this new transplant approach, they will be able to offer a lifeline to millions of patients suffering from kidney problemworldwide.
Dr. Winfred Williams, Slayman’s nephrologist, stated the potential of this breakthrough to address health disparities, particularly among ethnic minorities disproportionately affected by kidney disease. He also said, “An abundant supply of organs resulting from this technological advance may go far to finally achieve health equity. It will also offer the best solution to kidney failure to all patients in need,”
However, there have been previous experiments of pig kidney into brain dead patients, but slayman’s case is the first operation carried out on a living person.
