Pig kidney transplants are moving from laboratory research into human clinical trials, with leading transplant experts now focused on answering critical safety and effectiveness questions before this breakthrough therapy becomes widely available. The Second Annual Richard Slayman Clinical Xenotransplantation Workshop brought together transplant surgeons, FDA regulators, NIH officials, and patients to discuss the future of xenotransplantation, the process of transplanting organs from genetically modified animals into humans.

Why Are Researchers Pursuing Pig Kidney Transplants?

The need for kidney transplants far outpaces the supply of available organs. More than 100,000 people in the United States are currently waiting for a kidney transplant, according to the National Kidney Foundation. For many patients, receiving a kidney from a donor could mean more time with family, fewer health complications, and a significantly better quality of life. But the shortage is severe, which is why scientists are exploring xenotransplantation as a potential solution.

Xenotransplantation utilizes kidneys from specially genetically modified pigs. Recent advances in genetic engineering have made it possible for researchers to study whether these animal organs could become a viable new source for people who need transplants. The workshop was named in honor of Richard Slayman, who became the first person to receive a clinical kidney xenotransplant, marking a historic milestone in transplant medicine.

What Questions Still Need Answers Before Approval?

While early research has shown encouraging progress, xenotransplantation remains in the clinical trial stage. The FDA made clear at the workshop that full approval as a standard therapy is still a long way off. Regulators and researchers are actively studying several critical areas to ensure patient safety and treatment success:

• Organ Longevity: How long xenotransplanted kidneys can function safely in people over time
• Success Measurement: How to best monitor and measure transplant success using standardized metrics
• Genetic Modifications: How genetic changes to pig organs may improve outcomes and reduce rejection
• Patient Safety: How to ensure patient safety throughout the transplant process and long-term follow-up

These questions are a normal and necessary part of developing any new medical treatment. Careful research and oversight will help ensure that future advances are safe, effective, and centered on patients.

How Are Patients Being Included in This Research?

One of the most powerful moments of the workshop was a patient and family panel organized by the National Kidney Foundation's Heather Murphy, who represented the patient perspective. The panel brought patient voices to the center of a room full of scientists and policymakers, ensuring that the people most affected by kidney disease had a voice in shaping this research.

The workshop also recognized NKF's xenotransplantation support group, a meaningful acknowledgment of the community that has been built to help patients navigate this emerging treatment option. One anonymous participant in the National Kidney Foundation's 2025 survey captured the urgency many patients feel about xenotransplantation:

"I know my current treatment (dialysis) is just delaying my kidney disease. There is no cure. Eventually, I will need a kidney transplant, but there will never be enough kidneys for the number of people who need them. So the next best thing is xenotransplantation. It is a wonderful solution to help with the shortage of available kidneys. Please keep the research going and have these options ASAP."

Anonymous participant, National Kidney Foundation 2025 National Survey on Patient Attitudes Toward Xenotransplantation

The workshop included participation from leaders across the transplant community, including representatives from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The conversations between regulators and researchers were described as candid, with both groups committed to moving xenotransplantation forward safely and thoughtfully.

The National Kidney Foundation has committed to pushing for policies that advance xenotransplantation research while maintaining rigorous safety standards and keeping patients at the center of every decision. As genetic engineering of pig organs continues to be refined, the field is moving closer to the day when xenotransplantation could become a standard treatment option for the hundreds of thousands of people waiting for a kidney transplant.