Richard “Rick” Slayman, aged 62, the pioneering recipient of the world’s first genetically modified pig kidney transplant, has died two months after the groundbreaking procedure, according to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). Despite the success of the operation, there is no indication that his death was related to the transplant.
Slayman had been battling end-stage kidney disease, Type 2 diabetes, and hypertension prior to the transplant. He had previously undergone a human kidney transplant in 2018, which began to fail after five years, necessitating the March 16 pig kidney transplant. Following the transplant, his condition initially improved significantly, to the point where he no longer required dialysis.
MGH highlighted the operation as a historic milestone in the field of xenotransplantation—the transplant of living cells, tissues, or organs from one species to another. The hospital expressed deep sadness over Slayman’s sudden passing and extended condolences to his family.
Slayman’s family remembered him as an inspirational figure whose participation in the transplant procedure aimed to offer hope to the thousands needing life-saving transplants. They praised his enduring hope and optimism, his kind-hearted nature, and his dedication to family, friends, and co-workers.
While Slayman’s transplant marked a significant advance, it is noted that earlier attempts at pig heart transplants in other patients were not successful, with recipients surviving only a few weeks post-operation due to organ rejection by their immune systems.