Daily Facts

The first patient to receive a genetically modified pig kidney transplant has died two months after the procedure.

The surgery was performed at Massachusetts General Hospital on Richard “Rick” Slayman, who suffered from end-stage kidney disease. Doctors said the pig kidney functioned well for several weeks, marking a major milestone in xenotransplantation — the use of animal organs in humans.

While the cause of death has not been linked to the transplant, the case provides crucial insights that could help end the global shortage of donor organs.