Create a precedent!

The Marnix E.

In the study, published in the American Journal of Transplantation, UAB researchers tested the first preclinical model of transgenic pig kidneys transplanted into humans

"Together with our partners, we have made a significant investment in xenotransplantation for nearly a decade and look forward to the results announced today," said Selwyn Vickers, MD, dean of the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, UAB Health System and UAB/ Chief Executive Officer of the Alliance of Saint Vincent of Ascension

For the first time, transplanted pig kidneys were taken from genetically modified pigs that had 10 key gene edits that could make the kidneys suitable for transplantation into humans

UAB's Xenotransplantation Team

"This game-changing moment in medical history represents a paradigm shift and a major milestone in the field of xenotransplantation, which is arguably addressing the organ shortage crisis," said Jayme Locke, director of the UAB Surgical Integrative Transplant Institute and lead surgeon on the study.

Gene editing in pigs to reduce immune rejection enables pig organ transplants that could help thousands of people facing organ failure, disease or injury

Transgenic pig kidneys have been extensively tested in non-human primates

"This human preclinical model is a way to assess the safety and feasibility of a porcine-nonhuman primate model with no risk to living humans

This work was supported by biotech pioneer United Therapeutics Corporation, which provided a grant to the UAB to launch an innovative xenograft program

David Ayares, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Revivicor, said: “All of us at Revivicor are in awe of UAB’s historic achievement in the study of 10 gene-edited xenogeneic kidneys (UKidney)

About this study

Considering that more than 800,000 Americans suffer from kidney failure, most are not on the waiting list, and there are too few human organs to choose from to reduce that number

• The kidney was taken from a donated pig (housed in a pathogen-free, surgically clean facility)

  
  

• Before surgery, brain-dead recipient and donor animals were cross-matched to determine whether the transgenic pig kidney and its intended recipient were a good tissue match

  
  

• Pig kidneys were placed in the same anatomical location as human donor kidneys, with renal arteries, renal veins, and ureters that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder

  
  

• Brain-dead recipients received standard immunosuppressive therapy used in human-to-human kidney transplantation

  
  

The study was designed to achieve standards directly comparable to Phase 1 human clinical trials, reflecting every step of the standard transplantation between humans

Organ transplant recipient Jim Parsons opens doors to future of organ transplants

This scientific and medical breakthrough would not have been possible without Jim Parsons or his family
.

Parsons, 57, a registered organ donor with Legacy of Hope, an Alabama-based organ procurement organization, had always hoped his organs would help others after death; but his organs were not suitable for donation
.
Parsons' family allowed UAB to maintain his physical function on a ventilator during the study
.
His original kidney was removed, and two genetically modified pig kidneys were transplanted
.

Mr Parsons and his family have allowed us to replicate exactly the transplants we would perform on a living person
.
Their powerful contribution will save thousands of lives, which could begin in the near future
.
Mr.
Parsons' contribution is a tribute to his contribution while firmly establishing the viability, safety and feasibility of this preclinical model
.
Because of his gift, the researchers propose to name it the 'Parsons model'
.

Parsons' ex-wife Julie O'Hara and their children Allie, David and Cole (as well as Jim's sister and mother) decided after reaching out to Alan Spriggs and Locke of Hope Legacy take part in this study
.

O'Hara said: "Jim can talk to anyone and has no enemies
.
Jim would want to use his death to save as many people as possible, and if he knew that doing so could save thousands of people, he would Without hesitation
.
Our dream is that no one else dies waiting for a kidney, and we know Jim is very proud that his death may bring so much hope to others
.
"

Urgent need for other organ donation options

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, more people die each year from kidney cancer than from breast or prostate cancer
.
Although transplantation is the gold standard for treating end-stage renal disease, fewer than 25,000 kidney transplants are performed in the United States each year, and 240 Americans on dialysis die every day
.
Many of these deaths could have been avoided if there were an infinite supply of kidneys available for transplantation
.

The wait for a deceased donor kidney can be as long as 5 years, and in many states it is closer to 10 years
.
About 5,000 people die each year while waiting for a kidney transplant
.

Reference: “First clinical-grade porcine kidney xenotransplant using a human decedent model” 20 January 2022, American Journal of Transplantation .

10.
1111/ajt.
16930