In a remarkable medical advancement, an Alabama woman, Towana Looney, 53, has successfully received a genetically modified pig kidney transplant at NYU Langone Health. This marks the seventh such procedure conducted by the institution's surgeons, but Looney's case stands out due to her swift recovery, leaving the hospital just days after the operation.
During a press conference, Looney expressed her elation, feeling "overjoyed" and "blessed" for this second chance at life. Her story is particularly poignant as she had previously donated a kidney to her mother 25 years prior. A subsequent rare pregnancy complication led to her own kidney failure, making this transplant vital.
Dr. Marc Siegel, a Fox News senior medical analyst and NYU Langone clinical professor, highlighted the significance of this procedure in addressing the critical shortage of donor organs. Xenotransplantation, the use of organs from other species, offers a potential solution to this pressing issue.
Dr. Robert Montgomery, Director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, lauded Looney as a "hero" for her past act of donating a kidney to her mother and described her as a pioneer in transplantation. He emphasized the growing need for organ transplants, with a disproportionately small percentage of deceased individuals qualifying as donors.
This successful transplant involved ten genetic modifications to the pig kidney. The primary focus now is on managing Looney's immune response to prevent organ rejection. With 80,000 of the 100,000 individuals awaiting organ transplants each year needing kidneys, this breakthrough holds immense promise. While bio-engineered organs remain a distant prospect, xenotransplantation offers a more immediate solution, potentially extending to heart and liver transplants as well.
