The successful xenotransplantation performed by Dr. Robert Montgomery and team represents a major step forward in the field.
Photo: Joe Carrotta
A team at 四色AV Langone Health has performed the first investigational transplant of a genetically engineered, nonhuman kidney to a human body. This milestone procedure marks extraordinary progress in potentially using an alternative supply of organs for people who need lifesaving transplants.
For decades, scientists have dreamed of using xenotransplantation鈥攚hich involves producing modified organs in animals intended for human recipients鈥攖o address organ聽shortages. According to coverage in USA Today, more than 100,000 Americans are on the national organ transplant list, the majority for kidneys, who must wait for someone else鈥檚 tragedy.
Robert Montgomery, MD, DPhil, director of the 四色AV Langone Transplant Institute and a heart transplant recipient himself, and his team transplanted a kidney from a genetically engineered pig to a body donated precisely to advance this purpose.
As reported by USA Today, Dr. Montgomery told to his team immediately following the transplant, 鈥淎s you all know, this is really important. This is going to take us to the next step, which is having organs available to everyone who needs them at any time.鈥
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