What's happened
Towana Looney, a 53-year-old woman from Alabama, has become the fifth American to receive a gene-edited pig kidney transplant at NYU Langone. This experimental procedure marks a significant step in xenotransplantation, aiming to address the chronic organ shortage in the U.S.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the South China Morning Post, Towana Looney's transplant is a significant milestone in xenotransplantation, with her case being the first successful one after several previous attempts ended in failure. The Independent highlights her positive recovery, noting that she is not as ill as earlier recipients who died shortly after their transplants. AP News emphasizes the urgency of finding alternatives to human organ transplants, as thousands die waiting for suitable matches. This sentiment is echoed by Dr. Bartley Griffith, who stresses the need for courage in continuing this line of research despite past failures.
How we got here
The U.S. faces a severe organ shortage, with over 100,000 people on transplant lists. Revivicor, a biotech company, has been researching xenotransplantation for over 20 years, genetically modifying pigs to make their organs more compatible with humans.
Common question
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What Are the Benefits of Pig Kidneys for Organ Transplants?
As the U.S. grapples with a critical shortage of human organs for transplantation, the exploration of pig kidneys as a viable alternative is gaining momentum. With clinical trials set to begin in 2025, many are curious about the potential benefits and challenges of this groundbreaking approach. Here are some common questions surrounding pig organ transplants and their implications for patients in need.
More on these topics
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The Food and Drug Administration is a federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments.
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NYU Langone Health is an academic medical center located in New York City, New York, United States, affiliated with New York University.
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Alabama is a state in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west.
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The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public research university in Birmingham, Alabama. Developed from an academic extension center established in 1936, the institution became a four-year campus in 1966 and a fully autonomous university in the Uni
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Massachusetts General Hospital is the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School located in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.