Transplantation
Articles tagged with Transplantation
Birth after uterus transplant
A single-center study demonstrates uterus transplant feasibility in multidisciplinary centers, supporting its use for women with absolute uterine factor infertility. Ongoing reporting and data sharing will refine risk estimates and optimize patient counseling.
Rice Biotech Launch Pad receives award for research to advance cell-based therapy for Type 1 diabetes
Researchers at Rice Biotech Launch Pad are developing an encapsulation platform to protect transplanted pancreatic islet cells from immune attack. The approach aims to reduce scarring and inflammation, making it possible for people with Type 1 diabetes to manage their condition without long-term immunosuppression.
Surgeons debate promise and limits of robotics in lung transplantation at ISHLT meeting
At the ISHLT meeting, experts discussed the use of robotic technology in lung transplantation, highlighting potential benefits such as improved recovery and expanded access to transplantation for frail patients. However, Dr. Hermann Reichenspurner presented counterpoints, emphasizing that current evidence does not demonstrate superior ...
More children are surviving long enough for heart transplants—but not enough hearts exist
Advances in pediatric heart care have increased survival rates, but a shortage of donor hearts means many children still die waiting. Experts urge a shift from 'perfect' donor hearts to carefully selected organs and technological innovations to expand the donor pool.
Global experts examine how countries decide who gets a heart transplant
Experts at ISHLT's annual meeting explored how countries allocate heart transplants, with a focus on balancing competing priorities like saving the sickest patients and ensuring fairness. The discussion highlighted key differences in global allocation schemes, including France's data-driven model, which aims to prioritize patients base...
Surgical innovation could provide thousands of children with new hearts valves that grow with them
Partial heart transplantation replaces only defective valves and related structures, eliminating need for repeat replacements. This procedure can provide thousands of additional valve transplants annually, benefiting young patients worldwide.
Canadian nephrologist shares common-sense, patient-centered solutions to transplant inequities
A Canadian nephrologist shared common-sense, patient-centered solutions to address inequities in organ transplantation. His team co-developed practical approaches, including culturally safe spaces, navigation support, and storytelling through videos featuring Indigenous patients.
Reimagining heart transplant allocation worldwide
A new global allocation system is being proposed to address inequities in organ allocation for heart transplants. The proposal aims to reduce disparities and ensure no viable donor heart goes unused globally.
Should there be an upper age limit for lung transplants?
Experts weigh the pros and cons of an upper age limit for lung transplants, citing concerns over organ shortage and quality of life. Some argue that setting a hard age limit ignores biological variability and comorbidities, while others suggest increasing donor supply and utilization could solve the issue.
AI-driven decision support aims to utilize more donor hearts for transplant
Recent AI tools offer surgeons assistance in complex decision-making by analyzing donor hearts and providing a data-driven approach. This could lead to increased efficiency in the donor process, reducing the likelihood of hearts going unused due to time constraints.
Fewer surgeries, more complex cases in the future for pediatric lung transplantation
The number of pediatric lung transplants is expected to decline as highly effective therapies for cystic fibrosis reduce the need for transplantation. Complex cases with multi-system disease and severe cardiopulmonary compromise are on the rise, requiring highly specialized teams and close collaboration.
New Mayo Clinic technique identifies proteins that trigger immune responses in transplants, implants
A new technique identifies proteins that trigger strong immune responses, challenging a common assumption in the field. The ratio of immunogenicity measurement reveals patterns among hundreds of proteins, highlighting mitochondrial proteins as particularly immunogenic.
ASH publishes clinical practice guidelines on diagnosis and management of severe and very severe acquired aplastic anemia
The American Society of Hematology has published clinical practice guidelines for diagnosing and managing severe acquired aplastic anemia, a rare and life-threatening bone marrow failure disorder. The guidelines highlight the importance of shared decision-making between patients and providers, as well as the need for additional researc...
Terasaki Institute principal investigator Dr. Yangzhi Zhu awarded American Heart Association Career Development Award for advancing translational biosensing research
Dr. Yangzhi Zhu has been awarded a prestigious Career Development Award from the American Heart Association to support his research in translational biosensing and organ health assessment. The award aims to develop innovative sensing strategies for improving donor organ condition and supporting better clinical care.
New Houston Methodist study shows how AI can assist clinicians in identifying high-risk patients with bloodstream infection and offer better chance of survival
Researchers used AI to analyze over 15,000 patient data and identified three major clusters of BSI patients with varying levels of severity. The study found that high-risk patients, particularly older male transplant recipients, were more susceptible to infections and had higher mortality rates.
National policy to remedy harms of race-based kidney function estimation associated with increased transplants for Black patients
A nationwide intervention has led to increased kidney transplants among Black patients, with a 5.3 transplant increase per 1,000 listings. The study found that wait time modifications, required by a national policy, resulted in a 1.7-year gain in priority status for Black candidates.
“A spray shield that adheres to transplant organs” reduces the burden on patients taking lifelong immunosuppressants
Researchers developed a spray shield that adheres to transplant organs using mussel-derived adhesive protein, reducing immune rejection and its side effects. This innovation enables targeted delivery of immunosuppressants directly to the transplanted site, increasing success rates in xenograft transplantation.
Ongoing problems with kids’ heart transplant waitlists found in Stanford Medicine-led studies
A Stanford Medicine-led study reveals that the US method for ranking children on heart transplant waitlists does not consistently prioritize the sickest patients. The current system fails to capture medical urgency, leading to higher waitlist mortality rates and potential unfair treatment of some patients.
Changes in organ donation after circulatory death in the US
Contemporary donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors are now at 44% of organ procurement organizations. DCD donations account for half of all deceased donors in the US, leading to increased reliance on these organs to maintain transplant access.
More organ donations now come from people who die after their heart stops beating
Donation after circulatory death has become routine in the US, with organs from these donors used for multiple transplants. The number of circulatory-death donors increased significantly over 25 years, making them a major source of kidneys and livers.
VJLabs @ Terasaki Institute awarded NIH R21 grant to advance xenotransplantation research using organ-on-a-chip technology
Researchers are developing an organ-on-a-chip platform to study immune rejection in pig-to-human liver transplantation, addressing a major hurdle in xenotransplantation. The project aims to generate data supporting future preclinical studies and bring xenotransplantation closer to clinical use.
Hidden genetic mismatch, which triples the risk of a life-threatening immune attack after cord blood transplantation
A large registry study identifies a specific genetic mismatch linked to severe acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) after cord blood transplantation, tripling the risk of life-threatening complications. Researchers found that a particular HLA combination in donors and recipients increased aGVHD risk by threefold.
Transplantation and employment earnings in kidney transplant recipients
A cohort study of 3,230 kidney transplant recipients found that transplantation reverses declining employment income, enabling meaningful economic recovery. The findings highlight the socioeconomic value of transplantation and inform policies to support patients during pretransplant vulnerability.
A new vascularized tissueoid-on-a-chip model for liver regeneration and transplant rejection
Researchers developed a vascularized liver tissueoid-on-a-chip that recapitulates key structural, functional, and immunological features of human liver tissue. The platform enabled the study of liver regeneration and immune-mediated allograft rejection in a physiologically relevant human system.
ASH publishes clinical practice guidelines on frontline and relapsed/refractory management of all in adolescents and young adults
The American Society of Hematology released guidelines for frontline and relapsed/refractory management of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adolescents and young adults (AYAs), outlining optimal approaches to treating high-risk patient populations. The guidelines highlight the need for additional research on immunotherapies and tr...
Texas Children’s sets national benchmark in pediatric organ transplants
The hospital achieved a 22-percent increase over its previous peak year, performing more pediatric liver and kidney transplants than any other in the nation. The team is also recognized as a leader in pediatric lung and heart transplantation, with exceptional post-transplant survival rates.
New therapy could make life better for kidney transplant patients
A new study offers hope that kidney transplant patients may one day have a more effective treatment regimen. The Phase 2 pilot study showed improved kidney functioning in all patients who completed the study, with no patients experiencing rejection due to antibodies produced by the immune system.
Universal method could transform the future of bone transplantation
Researchers at Lund University developed a universal method for creating cell-free cartilage structures that guide bone repair without triggering strong immune responses. The successful test in animal models paves the way for human trials and the potential to transform the future of bone transplantation.
Efficacy of immunosuppressive regimens for survival of stem cell-derived grafts
A new study has identified optimized immunosuppressive strategies that allow transplanted iPSC-CMs to survive without immune rejection in non-human primates. The researchers found a triple-drug regimen consisting of methylprednisolone, calcineurin inhibitors, and mycophenolate mofetil reliably prevents acute immune rejection.
Vanderbilt Transplant Center nation’s largest after performing record number of solid organ transplants in 2025
The Vanderbilt Transplant Center achieved a record 960 solid organ transplants in 2025, saving 85 more patients than in 2024. The center's heart transplant team set a new world record for the second year in a row with 210 adult and pediatric heart transplants.
Stem cell therapy for stroke shows how cells find their way in the brain
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys found that transplanted stem cells develop neurons with unique codes to navigate and form connections in the brain. These codes guide the growth of axons and explain why most neurons of a particular subtype send axons to specific brain regions.
Reprogramming immunity to rewrite the story of Type 1 diabetes
Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina are developing a new therapy for Type 1 diabetes that combines stem cell biology, immunology, and transplantation science. The goal is to restore beta cell function and insulin production in people with T1D without using immunosuppressive drugs.
New study shows how the spleen helps the immune system accept a transplant
Researchers identified the spleen as a key control center for transplant tolerance, triggering donor-specific regulatory T cells to calm the immune response. This targeted approach induces controlled, donor-specific state in T cells, preserving body's ability to fight infections while supporting long-term graft acceptance.
IBD and PSC: Shifting perspectives after colectomy and liver transplantation
Colectomy and liver transplantation alter disease behavior in IBD-Associated PSC, highlighting unique risks and challenges. PSC patients face heightened cancer risk after colectomy, while transplant reshapes risks of de novo IBD and recurrent PSC.
The transformation of adult heart transplantation in the United States and Western Europe
Despite challenges such as donor shortages and socioeconomic disparities, adult heart transplantation has achieved remarkable success in the US and Western Europe. The two regions have embraced different approaches to transplantation systems, shaped by cultural and political attitudes.
Laparoscopic surgery significantly reduces blood loss and improves jaundice recovery for severe newborn liver disease
A new study by Nagoya University researchers found that laparoscopic surgery significantly reduces blood loss and improves jaundice recovery compared to traditional open surgery for treating biliary atresia. The study analyzed data from 356 children who had surgery at two months old, tracking their outcomes for an average of 13 years.
New study reveals that differences between parent and child views best assess quality of life after pediatric liver transplant
A new electronic application highlights discrepancies between parents and children's views on the child's well-being, providing powerful insight into how children truly cope. This approach has broad implications beyond transplant medicine and may reshape patient-reported outcomes for pediatric chronic illnesses.
New metric better predicts which drug-induced liver injury patients require transplant
A newly developed tool called the DILI-Inpt prognostic score can predict which hospitalized patients with severe idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury are unlikely to recover on their own. The scoring system outperformed existing systems in identifying patients at high risk of death and liver transplant need.
Machine-learning model could save costs, improve liver transplants, Stanford-led research shows
A new machine learning model predicts the time of death for organ donors, enabling more efficient liver transplants. The model outperformed surgeon judgment and reduced futile procurements by 60%, making the transplant process more efficient and potentially allowing more candidates to receive a transplant.
Immune reactions found behind human rejection of transplanted pig kidneys
Researchers have made breakthroughs in overcoming immune reactions behind human rejection of transplanted pig kidneys, paving the way for more successful clinical trials. The study reveals three major immune responses against the pig kidney and identifies potential biomarkers as early-warning systems for rejection.
Fewer women receive lung transplants despite policy changes
A UCLA Health study found that women continue to face barriers in accessing lung transplants despite recent national policy changes. The new Composite Allocation Score system aimed to improve fairness, but inequities persist, with women still 16% less likely to undergo transplantation.
NYU Langone Health chair of ophthalmology, Dr. Kathryn Colby, honored with Castroviejo Medal at AAO 2025
Dr. Kathryn Colby, NYU Langone Health's chair of ophthalmology, has received the prestigious Castroviejo Medal for her pioneering work on Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy. Her research explores a new surgical procedure to stimulate corneal regeneration.
Galvanizing blood vessel cells to expand for organ transplantation
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine develop a new method to generate functional endothelial cells from adult tissue, potentially enabling vascular grafts and organ transplants. The approach involves using small molecules to trigger cell division without aging or losing function.
UVA Health developing way to ID people at risk of dangerous lung scarring even before symptoms appear
Researchers aim to determine if biomarkers can identify adults at risk of developing interstitial lung disease (ILD), a chronic condition that causes inflammation and scarring in the lung tissue. The approach could lead to the development of new, better treatments with more tolerable side effects.
USC Stem Cell-led team makes major advance toward building a synthetic kidney
A USC Stem Cell-led team has successfully generated lab-grown kidney structures, or organoids, that exhibit kidney-like functions such as blood filtration and urine production. The 'assembloids' achieved maturity levels comparable to newborn mouse kidneys, paving the way for developing new therapies for patients awaiting transplant.
Partial heart transplant for congenital heart disease
A case series of 19 patients has successfully undergone partial heart transplant, enabling valve growth and representing a novel approach to congenital heart disease treatment. Careful follow-up and monitoring are crucial for the continued expansion of this procedure.
July Tip Sheet from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
New research from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center shows that partial match transplants can achieve good outcomes with cyclophosphamide treatment. Additionally, lifestyle medicine is playing a pivotal role in improving patient outcomes for cancer survivors.
New approach to kidney transplant matching could lead to better long-term outcomes
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered a novel tool to help stratify rejection risk in kidney transplantation. They found that mismatching SIRP-alpha between donors and recipients contributes to worse rejection, scarring, and graft failure in humans, suggesting improved transplant outcomes.
New organ recovery technique could make more heart transplants available
Vanderbilt researchers have developed a groundbreaking method for recovering donor hearts after circulatory death, offering similar outcomes to existing techniques but with greater simplicity and lower costs. The new rapid recovery with extended ultra-oxygenated preservation (REUP) technique has been successfully deployed in three tran...
‘Mismatched’ transplants now safe, effective for blood cancer patients, study finds
A new treatment approach using cyclophosphamide has been found to prevent most graft-versus-host disease in mismatched transplants. The study shows that 80% of patients are alive after a year, similar to outcomes seen in fully matched transplants.
Sugar-coated ‘sticky’ stem cells could unlock surgery-free liver treatments
Scientists at the University of Birmingham have developed a method to coat Hepatic Progenitor Cells (HPCs) with natural sugars, making them stickier and increasing their ability to repair liver tissues. The coating does not harm the cells or stop them from working properly.
Eliminating the need for lifelong immunosuppressive medications for transplant patients
Researchers at Mayo Clinic developed pioneering therapies to prevent organ rejection without the need for immunosuppression. A recent phase 3 clinical trial found that 75% of participants were able to stop taking immunosuppressive medications for more than two years, with some patients staying off medication for over three years.
Aligned stem cell sheets could improve regenerative therapies
Researchers have developed a technique to grow stem cells into single sheets, increasing the secretion of signaling proteins that help repair tissue and regulate the immune system. This new approach could improve stem cell-based treatments for conditions such as heart disease, liver damage, and autoimmune illnesses.
Elucidating the mechanism regulating functional balance in the left and right kidneys
A novel model reveals that local Ang II regulation plays a crucial role in maintaining kidney function balance. The study found that damaged kidneys compensate for the loss of function by increasing blood pressure and reducing glomerular atrophy.
Pusan National University scientists uncover gene mutation tied to poor outcomes in transplant patients
Scientists from Pusan National University discovered a genetic biomarker, FCGBP, that is strongly linked to bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and poor outcomes following lung transplantation. The finding may help identify high-risk patients and devise timely immunosuppressive treatments.
New study provides breakthrough in pig-to-human kidney transplantation
A pioneering study has provided unprecedented insights into the immune response following pig-to-human kidney xenotransplantation. Researchers mapped how human immune cells interact with pig kidney tissue, revealing critical early markers of rejection and potential intervention strategies.
3D printing breakthrough: Scientists create functional human islets for type 1 diabetes treatment
A team of international scientists successfully 3D printed functional human islets using a novel bioink, paving the way for more effective and less invasive treatment options. The bioprinted constructs maintained their structure without clumping or breaking down and showed promising results in laboratory tests.
Partial match parity: Increasing the donor pool for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
A recent study found that blood cancer patients achieve good outcomes with a partial match drawn from the national public registry of donors when treated with cyclophosphamide. Survival rates at one year were comparable to those seen in other studies with fully matched donors.
Cancer immunotherapy shows promise for transplant patients
A new study reveals that cancer-fighting immunotherapy drugs may offer benefits to organ transplant recipients with advanced cancer when carefully managed. The study found that about one in three patients responded positively to treatment within a year, with improved survival outcomes comparable to the general population.