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Massachusetts General Hospital Thursday announced nan world's first successful genetically edited pig transplant into a human. Sixty-two twelvemonth aged Rick Slayman is recovering good and expected to beryllium discharged soon. File photograph by Matthew Healey/UPI | License Photo
March 21 (UPI) -- Massachusetts General Hospital Thursday announced nan world's first successful genetically edited pig kidney transplant into a surviving human.
The patient, 62-year-old Rick Slayman, was surviving pinch end-stage kidney illness and nan infirmary said he was recovering well and was expected to beryllium discharged soon aft nan four-hour room connected Saturday.
"I person been a Mass General Transplant Center diligent for 11 years and person nan highest level of spot successful nan doctors, nurses, and objective unit who person cared for me. When my transplanted kidney began failing successful 2023, I again trusted my attraction squad astatine MGH to meet my goals of not conscionable improving my value of life but extending it," Slayman said.
The pig kidney was provided by eGenesis of Cambridge, Mass., and underwent 69 genomic edits utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 exertion to region harmful pig genes and to adhd definite quality genes that amended quality compatibility.
"We congratulate our collaborators astatine MGH connected this historical milestone," eGenesis CEO Mike Curtis said successful a statement. "We besides admit nan activity and dedication of nan eGenesis squad that made this accomplishment possible. This represents a caller frontier successful medicine and demonstrates nan imaginable of genome engineering to alteration nan lives of millions of patients globally suffering from kidney failure."
Success pinch this transplant could unfastened nan doorway to solving a worldwide organ shortage.
According to nan United Network for Organ Sharing, much than 100,000 group successful nan United States unsocial are waiting for organ transplants. Seventeen group dice each time arsenic they hold for organs.
"The occurrence of this transplant is nan culmination of efforts by thousands of scientists and physicians complete respective decades," said Dr. Tatsuo Kawai. "We are privileged to person played a important domiciled successful this milestone. Our dream is that this transplant attack will connection a lifeline to millions of patients worldwide who are suffering from kidney failure."
