62-Year-Old Rick Slayman Dies Two Months After World's First Genetically Edited Pig Kidney Transplant

May 12, 2024, 01:35 AM

Rick Slayman, the 62-year-old Massachusetts man who made medical history by receiving the world's first genetically edited pig kidney transplant, has died nearly two months after the procedure. The transplant, which took place at Massachusetts General Hospital in March, was initially deemed successful. Slayman, who had been on dialysis for years and had a previous human kidney transplant in 2018 that failed, was released from the hospital on April 3. Massachusetts General Hospital stated there was no indication that his death was related to the transplant. Slayman's family expressed gratitude towards the medical team, noting the additional seven weeks they had with him post-transplant.