In a groundbreaking medical advancement, 53-year-old Towana Looney from Alabama received a gene-edited pig kidney transplant at NYU Langone Health on November 25, 2024. This experimental procedure has freed her from eight years of dialysis, and she reports feeling better than ever. Looney is the fifth American to receive a gene-edited pig organ, marking a significant step forward in addressing the organ shortage crisis. Her successful recovery offers hope for the over 100,000 individuals on the U.S. transplant waiting list, demonstrating the potential of xenotransplantation to save lives.
Image via Smithsonian Magazine
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