The advent of genome editing enabled xenotransplantation researchers to potentially overcome one of the greatest obstacles of xenotransplantation: immune rejection of xenogeneic organs in human recipients. Thus, renewed interest in xenotransplantation has focused on transplantation of genetically modified porcine kidneys as a potential source for viable organs for renal replacement in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Given that the field of porcine kidney xenotransplantation is in the preclinical research and development stage, it is critical to gather and assess available information about and perceptions of xenotransplantation, particularly among patients and healthcare providers. A clear understanding of this perception baseline is needed to help the kidney transplant community set expectations for the first-in-human clinical trials of porcine kidney xenotransplants.

This project aims to establish a foundation for further engagement with the xenotransplantation community, healthcare providers, and patients needed to inform xenotransplantation clinical trial design. Assessing the xenotransplantation knowledge base must be done first to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of these future efforts.