US Woman Receives Gene-Edited Pig Kidney

The 53-year-old from Alabama has now become the latest recipient of a gene-edited pig kidney -- and is currently the only living person with an animal organ transplant -- a New York hospital announced on Tuesday

It's a blessing," she said in a press statement, published three weeks after the procedure at NYU Langone.

The field of xenotransplantation, long an elusive goal for science, is seeing renewed momentum as advancements in gene editing and managing the immune system bring the once-distant prospect closer to reality.

Advocates hope it can help address the organ shortage crisis, with more than 100,000 Americans waiting for an organ, including over 90,000 in need of kidneys