Richard “Rick” Slayman, the recipient of the first kidney from a genetically modified pig, has passed away at the age of 62, nearly two months post-transplant. The groundbreaking procedure took place on March 16 at Massachusetts General Hospital. In a statement released on May 11, the hospital declared that there was no evidence to suggest that Slayman’s death was directly linked to the pig kidney transplant.
Slayman had previously received a human kidney in 2018, but it began to fail in 2023. Due to a shortage of available organs, he faced a prolonged wait time for another human kidney transplant. Given the high demand for kidneys, with close to 90,000 people in the US alone on the waiting list, researchers had long explored the possibility of using animal organs to address this issue.
Following complications from dialysis, Slayman’s doctors recommended a pig kidney transplant. Prior to this, pig kidney transplants had only been attempted on deceased individuals. Slayman became the first living person to undergo this procedure, viewing it not only as a personal solution but also as a beacon of hope for the many others awaiting life-saving transplants.
Shortly after the transplant, the pig kidney began to function normally, although initial signs of rejection emerged a week later. Slayman was promptly treated with medications to combat rejection, and he was discharged from the hospital in stable condition. Unfortunately, no further updates on his health beyond discharge are available at this time.
Recently, another individual, Lisa Pisano, underwent a similar procedure at NYU Langone Health, receiving a genetically engineered pig kidney along with the pig’s thymus gland. This form of organ transplantation, known as xenotransplantation, involves genetic modifications to reduce the risk of rejection by the human immune system.
The family of Richard Slayman expressed gratitude for the optimism he instilled in other transplant patients, researchers, and healthcare professionals. His legacy serves as an inspiration to all those impacted by the need for life-saving organ transplants.
