Sunday, September 6, 2026 - Tim Andrews has made medical history after living for 271 days with a genetically modified pig kidney before successfully receiving a human kidney transplant.
The New Hampshire man became the first reported patient to move from a gene-edited animal kidney to a human donor kidney in the same treatment journey, offering a major breakthrough in the development of xenotransplantation.
The pig kidney allowed Andrews to remain free from dialysis for almost nine months while he waited for a human donor. The organ had been genetically modified to reduce the risk of rejection and other complications.
After 271 days, the pig kidney developed problems and was removed, leaving Andrews to temporarily return to dialysis before receiving a human kidney in January 2026.
The case is now drawing fresh attention because it could point to a new way of helping patients survive while waiting for scarce human organs.
Scientists are increasingly exploring gene-edited pig kidneys as a potential bridge to conventional transplantation, although much more research is needed before the approach becomes routine.
For patients facing long waits for a donor kidney, Andrews’ experience provides a powerful glimpse of what the future of transplantation could look like.
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