First Successful Gene-Edited Pig Kidney Transplant Offers Hope for Organ Shortage

Towana Looney, a 53-year-old Alabama woman, is thriving weeks after receiving a genetically modified pig kidney in a groundbreaking medical procedure.

Towana Looney became the third living person in the U.S. to receive a gene-edited pig kidney, following years of chronic kidney disease and an eight-year wait for a human donor match.
The pig kidney, modified with ten genetic edits to reduce rejection risks, began functioning immediately after transplantation and has allowed Looney to discontinue dialysis.
Doctors at NYU Langone Health are closely monitoring Looney’s recovery, with plans to launch formal clinical trials of genetically edited pig kidneys next year.
Previous recipients of pig kidneys faced complications or early deaths, but Looney’s otherwise stable health has contributed to her promising recovery so far.
With over 90,000 people on the U.S. kidney transplant waiting list, this breakthrough could address the critical organ shortage if future trials prove successful.

Genetic Literacy Project