A 54-year-old woman from New Jersey has made medical history by receiving a Genetically Engineered Pig kidney and thymus gland in a groundbreaking surgery at NYU Langone Health. Lisa Pisano, who had been battling heart failure and end-stage kidney disease, underwent a nine-day procedure that first involved the implantation of a mechanical heart pump before the transplant of the pig organs.

The pig thymus gland was strategically placed under the kidney covering to reprogram Pisano’s immune system and reduce the need for immunosuppressive drugs. This marks the second known transplant of a gene-edited pig kidney into a living person and the first with a pig’s thymus combined.

The NYU Langone team has been at the forefront of experimenting with transplanting genetically engineered pig organs into deceased humans since 2021. This cutting-edge form of xenotransplantation is seen as a potential solution to the organ shortage crisis, with over 100,000 people on the national transplant waiting list in the US.

Organ transplants are typically prioritized for healthier patients, leaving those with complex medical conditions with limited options. However, previous experiments have shown that pig kidneys can function in human bodies for up to two months, with success in monkeys lasting up to two years.

Despite the risks and uncertainties involved, Lisa Pisano is reportedly recovering well and feeling fantastic after the surgery. She is grateful for the opportunity to receive the transplant as a last resort option, highlighting the potential of xenotransplantation to revolutionize the field of organ donation and transplantation.

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