Gene-edited pigs for organ transplants: Addressing the organ shortage: Live Timeline (Feb 2026)

An Alabama woman has reportedly thrived for over 61 days after receiving a pig kidney transplant, setting a new record for a living recipient of a xenotransplant. This marks a significant advancement in the field of organ transplantation.

Dr. Robert Montgomery confirms that the first transplant of a new clinical trial for pig kidneys into living humans has been carried out, with more planned, indicating ongoing clinical trial activity.

A clinical trial in New York saw a gene-edited pig kidney transplanted into a living patient in October 2025 as part of a six-patient trial. Additionally, Massachusetts General Hospital performed three gene-edited pig kidney transplants using a novel immunosuppressive strategy called tegoprubart.

Researchers have made a significant breakthrough by identifying the specific immune reactions that lead to the rejection of pig kidney transplants in humans. This discovery provides clear targets for developing therapies to improve the success rate of xenotransplantation.

NYU Langone Health begins the first surgery in a clinical trial (EXPAND study) testing gene-edited pig kidney transplants in patients with end-stage renal disease.

The world's first auxiliary liver xenotransplant from a genetically engineered pig to a living human recipient was reported in October 2025, with the patient surviving for 171 days. This pioneering case demonstrates that modified porcine livers can support human metabolic functions.

Researchers successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig lung into a brain-dead human recipient, where it functioned for nine days without rejection or infection.

A landmark procedure at Massachusetts General Hospital in January 2025 involved a 66-year-old man receiving a genetically modified pig kidney, enabling him to discontinue dialysis for the first time in over two years.

The FDA has approved the first human clinical trials for kidney xenotransplantation in the U.S. Additionally, Massachusetts General Hospital performed its second gene-edited pig kidney transplant into a living patient on January 25, 2025.

The FDA greenlights the first multi-patient clinical trials for genetically modified pig kidney transplants in humans, involving companies United Therapeutics and eGenesis.

Massachusetts General Hospital performs its second gene-edited pig kidney transplant into a living person, who is later discharged with the organ functioning well.

Towana Looney receives a 10-gene-edited pig kidney at NYU Langone and is discharged, becoming the longest-living person with a pig kidney at the time of publication.

Surgeons in China perform the first successful transplant of a lung from a genetically modified pig into a brain-dead human, expanding xenotransplantation to another organ type.

Richard Slayman, the first living recipient of a gene-edited pig kidney, passes away two months post-transplant, though his death was not believed to be related to the transplanted organ.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) announced the first peer-reviewed research detailing a successful transplant of gene-edited pig kidneys into a brain-dead human. This procedure involved pig kidneys with 10 key gene edits.

Massachusetts General Hospital performs the world's first successful transplant of a gene-edited pig kidney into a living human, Richard Slayman, who had end-stage kidney disease.

NYU Langone performs a pig kidney transplant with a single genetic modification into a human decedent, demonstrating optimal function for 32 days without rejection.

The University of Maryland School of Medicine performs the first gene-edited pig heart transplant into a living human, David Bennett Sr., a groundbreaking procedure for a patient with terminal heart disease.

Dr. Robert Montgomery performs the world's first gene-edited pig-to-human kidney transplant in a neurologically deceased person at NYU Langone Health, marking the first direct human test of a gene-edited organ.

A macaque survives for over a year with a life-supporting kidney xenotransplanted from a genetically altered pig, demonstrating significant preclinical success.

Pigs are identified as the preferred animal source for xenotransplantation due to their organ size similarity to humans and their availability for genetic modification.