Towana Looney donated one of her kidneys to her mother in 1999. Unfortunately, her remaining kidney failed years later due to complications during pregnancy.
Now 53 and from Alabama, Looney has become the latest recipient of a gene-edited pig kidney. This groundbreaking procedure, performed at NYU Langone, makes her the only living person with an animal organ transplant, according to the hospital’s announcement on Tuesday.
“It’s a blessing,” Looney shared in a press release. The statement came three weeks after her surgery, which took place on November 25.
The Future of Xenotransplantation
Xenotransplantation—the process of transplanting animal organs into humans, has been a scientific goal for years. Thanks to gene-editing advancements and better immune system management, it’s now closer to reality.
Many experts believe it could solve the growing organ shortage crisis. In the U.S. alone, over 100,000 people are waiting for an organ, with 90,000 of them in need of kidneys.
Looney’s journey has been challenging. Since December 2016, she lived on dialysis for eight long years after high blood pressure during pregnancy damaged her kidney. Though living organ donors get priority, Looney’s unusually high levels of harmful antibodies made finding a match nearly impossible. Her health worsened over time, and her body struggled to support dialysis, leaving her very frail.
A Historic Surgery
Looney’s procedure marks only the third time a gene-edited pig kidney has been transplanted into a living human. The first recipient, Rick Slayman, 62, underwent surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital but sadly passed away two months later in May.
The second patient, Lisa Pasano, received her transplant at NYU Langone. While she initially recovered, she had to return to dialysis after 47 days and passed away in July.
Despite these setbacks, doctors are hopeful. They continue to refine their techniques, work on improved gene-edited pig kidneys, and carefully choose patients who are healthier.
“Without the generosity of those who participated in our research, we wouldn’t have reached this point,” said Dr. Robert Montgomery, who led Looney’s seven-hour surgery. “Towana’s case is a key step toward clinical trials under FDA guidance, which will test the safety of these organs as a long-term solution.”
Montgomery has been a pioneer in the field, having performed seven human xenotransplantations so far. He also led the world’s first gene-edited pig-to-human organ transplant on a deceased patient in 2021.
Recovery and Hope for the Future
Looney was discharged on December 6 and will stay in an apartment in New York City for now. Doctors say that due to her high levels of harmful antibodies, she may occasionally need medication to help her body adjust to the new organ.
She is expected to return home in about three months.
