The first ‘across the bridge’: Man who received experimental pig kidney transplant now has a human organ

 https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/16/health/pig-kidney-human-organ-transplant

Xenotransplantation – the transplant of different species’ organs - has been touted as a possible solution to the current shortage of organ donors. The transplanted pig organs are genetically modified to control for rejection and size.

“Dialysis is not able to reproduce what the body needs in terms of clearing the waste,” said Dr. Leonardo Riella, medical director of kidney transplantation at Mass General Brigham hospital and Andrews’ doctor. “It has a huge burden on the patient, both in their quality of life but most importantly on their health.”

“Even if it is a bridge,” Riella said, “it would be better than [Tim] just staying on dialysis.”