Collaborative Transplantation Group
Heads of laboratory:
The Collaborative Transplant Research Group is a newly-formed research group which combines the research strengths of three established transplantation research groups in the Department of Surgery, Sydney University, the AW Morrow Liver Laboratory at the Centenary Institute and the Renal Transplant Research Laboratory at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. This group occupies newly-established laboratories in the Blackburn Building, University of Sydney. A number of projects concerned with: (i) xenotransplantation, (ii) renal transplantation and (iii) rejection and tolerance of transplanted organs are currently being conducted.
Xenotransplantation
A potential means of alleviating the current critical shortage of organs for transplant is through the use of other species as donors (xenotransplantation). The pig is the most likely candidate donor species. A significant barrier to xenotransplantation, known as delayed xenograft rejection, is a response mediated by the cells of the recipient's immune system. This group is developing strategies to overcome this barrier.
Renal transplantation
This group is concerned with the biological mechanisms underlying acute and chronic renal allograft rejection, with particular interest in the role of macrophages in this process.
Rejection and tolerance of transplanted organs
Rejection is the major complication of transplantation. Immunosuppressive drugs are given to transplant patients to control rejection. However, these drugs can have severe side effects and need to be used for life. To prevent rejection we are studying an animal model where a transplanted liver is spontaneously accepted without requiring immunosuppression. This surprising result has already yielded exciting new insights into ways to improve treatment of transplant patients.
