An Alabama woman has successfully undergone a gene-edited pig kidney transplant at NYU Langone Health.
This was the seventh pig organ transplant completed by NYU Langone surgeons.
Twana Rooney, 53, was miraculously discharged from hospital just a few days after surgery.
Massachusetts man discharged from hospital after first successful pig kidney transplant
At a press conference at New York University Langone, Rooney said she was “overjoyed” and “happy to receive the gift of a second chance at life.”
“I want to give courage to people undergoing dialysis,” she says.
Twana Rooney attends a press conference at New York University Langone Health on December 17, 2024. (Fox News)
Dr. Mark Siegel, senior medical analyst for FOX News and professor of clinical medicine at New York University Langone, joined American Report on Wednesday to share how this offers hope for the future of transplant medicine.
“We have a huge shortage of body organs,” he said. “And even if we get people to donate, there will still be a huge shortfall…so we have to do something.”
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“We can bioengineer them or use what we get from other species. [which is] This is called xenotransplantation. ”
Siegel praised Rooney's “incredible” journey, which began when he donated his kidney to his mother 25 years ago.
“She is looking for other possibilities, opportunities to live a normal life again.”
Siegel said Rooney developed a rare complication during her pregnancy that caused kidney failure.
Dr. Robert Montgomery, director of New York University's Langone Transplant Institute, called Rooney a “hero” while speaking with Siegel in a separate interview.
Dr. Mark Siegel joined America Reports to discuss the success of New York University Langone's pig kidney transplant. (Fox News)
“She gave her mother the gift of life,” he said. “She is someone who has already paid dearly for her incredible act of generosity.”
“She is looking for other possibilities, opportunities to live a normal life again.”
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Montgomery said he believes Rooney will “change the face of transplantation.”
Siegel said Montgomery himself knows the struggle of waiting for an organ, having survived 30 cardiac arrests and received a heart transplant.
Dr. Robert Montgomery called Rooney “one of the pioneers” of transplant medicine. (Fox News)
“Once I got through that situation and realized that I probably wouldn't survive this, the epiphany was, I need another source of organs,” said Montgomery, who died every year. It was pointed out that “much less than 1%'' of people become organ donors.
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“At the same time, the number of people who benefit from organ transplants continues to grow,” he added.
Of the seven pig organ transplants performed so far at NYU Langone, “this one was successful enough” for Rooney to walk home, Siegel acknowledged.
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Montgomery explained to Siegel that this was because his kidneys had been genetically modified in 10 ways.
“Once we get past the denial, this is going to be a big issue,” Siegel said. (via Joe Carotta, NYU Langone Health)
The doctor said the “key” now was to focus on immunology to prevent Rooney's immune system from rejecting the kidney.
“That's why this is going to be a big issue down the road, when we get past the denial,” Siegel added.
“This is the future.”
Of the 100,000 people waiting for an organ transplant each year, 80,000 are waiting for a kidney, Siegel said, but this type of transplant can also include the heart and liver.
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“This is the future,” he said.
The availability of lab-grown or bioengineered organs is “much further away” than xenotransplants, but xenotransplants are “now on our doorstep,” Montgomery said. added.
