Pig kidney functions in donated body for two-months: Could this transplant be the end of organ shortages? Medical breakthrough explained
NYU Langone Health has pushed the boundaries of science and kindled hope for animal-human transplants, offering a potential solution to the nation's critical organ shortage. In a first-of-its-kind endeavor, a pig's genetically modified kidney was successfully transplanted into a brain-dead human donor, Maurice “Mo” Miller, marking the longest duration a pig kidney has functioned inside a human, albeit in a deceased individual. The experiment has garnered global attention, raising optimism for future xenotransplantation efforts.
A Two-Month Medical Milestone
Dozens of medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, paid their respects as they lined the hospital corridor in tribute to this historic achievement. For a remarkable two months, the pig kidney operated normally within Miller's body.
On Wednesday, the kidney was removed, and Miller's body was returned to his family for cremation. The extended duration of the kidney's performance has instilled confidence in the researchers, who are eager to share their findings with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to pave the way for potential live pig kidney transplants.
A Solution to the Organ Shortage Crisis
Dr. Robert Montgomery, the transplant surgeon leading the groundbreaking experiment, views animal-to-human transplants as a critical means to address the severe organ shortage crisis in the United States. Over 100,000 individuals are currently on the national organ transplant waiting list, with the majority in need of a kidney. Tragically, thousands of patients succumb to their conditions while awaiting a suitable organ donor.
Xenotransplantation: A Long-Pursued Dream
Efforts to achieve xenotransplantation, the transplantation of animal organs into humans,
