Surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston announced Thursday that Richard Slayman, 62, made medical history last Saturday as the first living person to receive a genetically modified kidney from a pig.
Dr. Winfred Williams, Slayman’s nephrologist and the associate chief of the nephrology division at Mass General, shared insights into the groundbreaking four-hour operation. He expressed optimism, stating, “It really is a groundbreaking milestone… Should the kidney continue to work well and this is a success, I think it represents a breakthrough in a number of different areas.”
This achievement marks a significant advancement in xenotransplantation, offering hope to the thousands of individuals in the U.S. awaiting organ transplants and countless others globally.
