Clinical Trials for Pig-to-Human Kidney Transplantation Are Here

This year, one of the most groundbreaking developments in kidney care is finally becoming reality: The FDA approved the first clinical trials for kidney xenotransplantation in the U.S.

This moment was made possible by people like you. Those with kidney disease, their loved ones, and caregivers have helped push this dream forward by speaking up about what matters most to them.

• What Is Xenotransplantation, and Why Is It a Big Deal?
• What’s New in Xenotransplantation?
• How National Kidney Foundation Helped Make This Happen
• What’s Coming Next?
• Patients Belong at the Table
• Have Questions?

Currently, there aren’t enough donated kidneys to meet the growing demand. Thousands of people die each year waiting for a transplant. But xenotransplantation could help change that.

Learn more about xenotransplantation.

Science has moved rapidly in recent years.

In 2022, doctors performed the first successful pig-to-human kidney transplants using brain-dead donors. This proved that the organs could function for short periods. In 2023 and 2024, research teams took the next step, transplanting pig kidneys into living patients in carefully monitored, short-term trials.

Now, in 2025, we are entering a new chapter: human clinical trials.

Learn more about xenotransplant milestones. 

As the leading patient advocacy organization in kidney health, we make sure that the voices of patients, families, and caregivers are not only heard but truly listened to.

In 2024, we teamed up with the FDA to host the first-ever Externally-Led Patient-Focused Drug Development (EL-PFDD) meeting on xenotransplantation.

At this meeting, people living with kidney disease, their care partners, and advocates told the FDA what matters most to them. Patients were clear. While innovation is exciting, it must be guided by ethical practices, long-term follow-up plans, and clear communication. They valued safety, trust, honesty, and fairness above all.

We are proud to say that our work helped pave the way for these upcoming clinical trials. The FDA listened. As a result, trials will be more patient-informed, patient-aware, and patient-driven than ever before.

Learn more about clinical trials. 

We are launching several new efforts to keep patients informed and involved as this science moves forward:

• Understanding and Amplifying the Patient Voice: NKF’s new, large-scale survey is helping us understand how patients feel about xenotransplantation now that it’s closer to reality. We will share the results at the International Xenotransplantation Association congress this September in Geneva, Switzerland.
• Community Readiness: With help from the FDA and the Kidney Health Initiative (KHI), we’re building tools to help people understand what xenotransplantation means. It will be a go-to place for reliable, up-to-date information about how xenotransplantation works, where trials are happening, and answers to common questions.
• Patient Podcast: We’re planning a podcast series where patients can hear straight from the people at the heart of this–xenotransplant recipients and the surgeons who care for them. The best way to learn is from real stories, not just science.

Innovation should never happen in a vacuum. As kidney xenotransplantation moves from theory to practice, NKF is committed to keeping patients at the center. We’re here to help guide decisions, shape the future, and stay informed every step of the way.

We are excited, hopeful, and deeply humbled by the role we’ve played in getting us to this moment. But more than anything, we’re focused on what comes next. Our mission remains the same: to eliminate the suffering caused by kidney disease and to transform lives through science, advocacy, and compassion.

Thanks for being part of this journey with us.

Reach out to Heather Murphy at heather.murphy@kidney.org to learn more about NKF’s work in xenotransplantation.