Man Lives 9 Months With Pig Kidney in Medical First

Tim Andrews made medical history by surviving nine months without dialysis after doctors transplanted a genetically modified pig kidney into his body. The 66-year-old's groundbreaking procedure in January 2025 at Mass General Brigham has opened new doors for thousands of patients desperately waiting for donor organs.

The specially edited pig kidney worked perfectly for six months before blood vessel damage occurred. During that time, it filtered waste and kept Andrews healthy enough to eventually receive a human donor kidney, exactly what doctors hoped it would do.

Published in The Lancet, this case shattered the previous record for the longest dialysis-free survival after a pig-to-human kidney transplant in a living patient. Researchers monitored Andrews carefully throughout the trial and found zero pig viruses or pathogens, a crucial safety milestone that proves the concept can work.

Dr. Leonardo Riella, the study's lead author, explained that xenotransplantation (transplanting organs from animals to humans) could finally address the severe global organ shortage. Right now, over 90,000 Americans alone are waiting for kidney transplants, with many dying before a donor becomes available.

The genetically modified pig kidney served as a bridge, keeping Andrews alive and off dialysis while he waited for a human organ. That bridge made all the difference in his quality of life and survival chances.

The Ripple Effect

This breakthrough could transform organ transplantation as we know it. If pig organs can safely sustain human life for months at a time, hospitals could maintain a ready supply of kidneys for patients who would otherwise face years of grueling dialysis or death.

The success also validates years of genetic research aimed at making animal organs compatible with human bodies. Scientists modified 69 genes in the pig to prevent rejection and ensure the kidney could function in a human environment.

For the 17 people who die every day in the United States while waiting for an organ transplant, this research represents genuine hope. Families who've watched loved ones deteriorate on dialysis machines now have reason to believe better options are coming.

Andrews' courage to participate in this experimental procedure has given researchers the data they need to refine the technology and move toward broader clinical trials. His nine months of freedom from dialysis proved the concept works in real life, not just in laboratories.

What started as one man's medical emergency has become a beacon of hope for millions worldwide facing organ failure.