Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) achieved a historic milestone by successfully performing the world’s first genetically edited kidney transplant from a pig to a human, offering new hope to patients with end-stage kidney disease.
Mass General Hospital successfully performs the world’s first genetically-edited kidney transplant
On Saturday, 16 March 2024, MGH, a prominent member of the Mass General Brigham health care system, announced a groundbreaking achievement in the field of transplantation medicine.
A team led by esteemed surgeons and researchers, including Dr Leonardo V. Riella, Dr Tatsuo Kawai, and Dr Nahel Elias, carried out a four-hour surgery to transplant a genetically edited pig kidney into a 62-year-old man diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).
This pioneering procedure represents a significant advancement in efforts to address the critical organ shortage crisis.
The genetically edited pig kidney, provided by eGenesis of Cambridge, Massachusetts, underwent 69 genomic edits through CRISPR-Cas9 technology.
These modifications were aimed at removing harmful pig genes and incorporating certain human genes to enhance compatibility with the human immune system.
Furthermore, the process involved the inactivation of porcine endogenous retroviruses to prevent any potential risk of infection in humans.
What is the latest update on the patient?
The recipient, Mr Richard ‘Rick’ Slayman from Weymouth, Massachusetts, is recovering well post-operation, the hospital noted in a statement.
Having been a patient at the Mass General Transplant Centre for over a decade, Mr Slayman expressed his trust and gratitude towards the medical team.
“I have been a Mass General Transplant Center patient for 11 years and have the highest level of trust in the doctors, nurses, and clinical staff who have cared for me. When my transplanted kidney began failing in 2023, I again trusted my care team at MGH to meet my goals of not just improving my quality of life but extending it. My nephrologist, Dr. Winfred Williams, MD and the Transplant Center team suggested a pig kidney transplant, carefully explaining the pros and cons of this procedure.
“I saw it not only as a way to help me, but a way to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive. I want to thank everyone at MGH who has cared for me, especially Dr. Williams, Dr. Kawai, the surgeon who performed my first kidney transplant and now this one, and Dr. Riella, who has orchestrated the logistics behind this new transplant. They have supported me during every step of the journey, and I have faith they will continue to do so,” he wrote.
Mr. Slayman, who has battled Type 2 diabetes and hypertension, had previously undergone a kidney transplant in December 2018.
The signs of failure in the transplanted kidney led to the decision to a second, more innovative procedure.
His bravery and willingness to explore new medical frontiers have been praised by the medical community and hailed as a beacon of hope for human evolution and patients worldwide suffering from end-stage renal disease.