FUNDED GRANTS: 2019
GRANTS AWARDED IN 2019
UNITED NETWORK FOR ORGAN SHARING
Genetic and Immune Predictors of Recurrent Glumerulonephritis of the Kidney Allograft
The project seeks to quantify the association between kidney-specific prognostic measures (biopsy findings, renal anatomy characteristics, machine perfusion parameters) and long-term post-transplant graft outcomes to reduce risk aversion among physicians evaluating kidneys for transplantation and to provide greater resources for decision-making, thus reducing kidney discards and improving clinical outcomes in transplantation. The project contributes to scientific knowledge relative to biopsy findings regarding renal anatomy and pulsatile perfusion parameters.
Principal Investigator: Darren Stewart, MS
Awarded: September 2019
Duration: 24 months
Amount of Award: $100,000
BRIGHAM & WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
Donate HCV Trial: Donors of Hepatitis C NAT Positive Allografts for Transplantation Evaluation in Non-HCV Recipients
The objective of this trial is to continue to expand the organ donor pool by demonstrating that hearts, lungs, kidneys, and dual organs can be transplanted safely and efficaciously from donors who are infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) into recipients who are uninfected. The Grantee will use a shortened, 2-week, prophylactic course of HCV medications in order to block viral replication in the recipient. The primary outcome is a composite of a sustained virologic response at 12 weeks after completion of antiviral therapy for HCV infection and graft survival at 6 months after transplantation.
Principal Investigator: Ann Woolley, MD, MPH
Awarded: September 2019
Duration: 24 months
Amount of Award: $149,996
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Ex Vivo Human Limb Preservation for Vascularized Composite
Battlefield injuries are less deadly with modern advances in body armor, rapid evacuation from the field, quick clot dressings, tourniquets, and vascular shunts. These have led to higher warrior survival rates, but amputation rates for massive blast injuries remain high. Alternatives to discarding an amputated limb in forward areas of combat would have a direct impact on our wounded warriors. The Grantee proposes an alternative treatment for an amputated extremity: preserving the human limb temporarily out of the body (or “ex vivo”) with perfusion technology until more resources are available for surgery. Such technology could also be used in traumatic amputations from civilian injuries and mass casualty scenarios. This research proposal aims to develop a laboratory human model to temporarily preserve a severed human limb or part of a limb for delayed replantation, for use in surgical reconstruction, or in preparation for human limb transplantation.
Principal Investigator: L. Scott Levin, MD, FACS
Awarded: February 2019
Duration: 12 months
Amount of Award: $100,000
IVIVA MEDICAL, INC.
Bioengineered Pancreas for Diabetes Treatment
Approximately 25% of patients suffering from diabetes are completely dependent on insulin supplementation, which is provided through exogenous insulin injection or islet transplantation. The Grantee’s goal is to build grafts that will overcome challenges faced by current transplantation approaches. The Grantee will design a hierarchical channel network with geometry optimized for perfusion and diffusion of molecules. The Grantee will optimize the membrane’s composition, mechanical, and physical properties to mimic the native islet niche. After optimization of the principal components and design, the Grantee will perform in-vitro and in-vivo testing to evaluate graft survival and function. If successful, completion of the proposed project will provide a novel yet easily translatable technique to transplant human islets.
Principal Investigator: Harald Ott, MD, CSO
Co-Investigator: Maria Jaramillo, PhD
Awarded: February 2019
Duration: 12 months
Amount of Award: $150,000