Lab-Grown Kidneys and Gene-Edited Pig Transplants: The Future of Kidney Replacement Is Here

Revolutionary kidney replacement technologies are moving from science fiction to clinical reality, offering hope to the more than 103,000 Americans waiting for kidney transplants. Scientists are developing lab-grown kidneys from patient cells and conducting the first clinical trials using genetically modified pig kidneys, potentially transforming treatment for kidney failure.

What Are Lab-Grown Kidneys and How Do They Work?

Artificial kidneys grown from a patient's own cells represent a groundbreaking approach to organ replacement. These lab-created organs are designed to function like natural kidneys without the risk of rejection, since they're made from the patient's own tissue. Mayo Clinic researchers are using 3D bioprinters to create living models of organs using medical imaging and patient-specific cells, though this technology is still in development.

The innovation addresses a critical shortage: only about 1 in 3 people on the transplant waiting list received a kidney last year. "We want to get the right treatment to the right patient at the right time, and ideally at the right dose," explains Dr. Jonathan Himmelfarb, a kidney specialist at Mount Sinai.

How Are Gene-Edited Pig Kidneys Being Tested in Humans?

In 2025, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first clinical trials using genetically modified pig kidneys for people with kidney failure through a process called xenotransplantation. This approach uses cells, tissues, or organs from animals to treat medical conditions in humans. The pig kidneys are genetically modified to reduce the risk of rejection and help them function properly in the human body.

The results so far show promise. In November 2024, a woman became the third person to receive a gene-edited pig kidney and continues to do well. These breakthrough trials could dramatically expand the pool of available organs for transplant.

What Other Kidney Replacement Innovations Are in Development?

Beyond lab-grown and pig kidneys, several other revolutionary technologies are advancing through clinical trials:

• Implantable Dialysis Device: The Holly™ system received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation and is designed to work continuously inside the body, mimicking natural kidney function by filtering waste and balancing fluids
• Portable Dialysis Technology: Researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill are developing a dialysis device as small as a smartphone, powered by the patient's own blood pressure to dramatically improve quality of life
• One-Time Cell Therapy: A trial tested MDR-101, which uses donor stem cells to retrain the immune system to accept transplanted kidneys without anti-rejection drugs
• Enhanced Organ Preservation: The new Room Temperature Machine Perfusion device keeps donated kidneys healthy longer and allows doctors to test organ function before transplant surgery

For patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), which affects more than 1 in every 7 adults in the United States, these advances offer hope beyond traditional dialysis. "People with chronic kidney disease generally have no symptoms until they're very near kidney failure," explains Dr. Michael Shlipak, a kidney-health researcher at the University of California, San Francisco.

While many of these technologies are still experimental or in early testing phases, they represent a significant shift in how kidney failure might be treated in the coming years. The Holly™ system could begin in-human studies as early as 2027, while some treatments like Imlifidase for high-risk transplant patients may be available as early as summer 2026. Patients should speak with their transplant teams to understand what options may currently be available to them.