News & Interview! World’s First Successful Transplant of a Genetically-Edited Pig Kidney
March 21 - Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) announced the world’s first successful transplant of a genetically-edited pig (porcine) kidney into a 62-year-old man living with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The surgery was conducted by Tatsuo Kawai (Director of the Legorreta Center for Clinical Transplant Tolerance), along with Nahel Elias (Interim Chief of Transplant Surgery and Surgical Director for Kidney Transplantation) under the leadership of Leonardo V. Riella (Medical Director for Kidney Transplantation)
Members Spotlight
Tatsuo Kawai, MD, PhD
Dr. Tatsuo Kawai is a professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School and the A. Benedict Cosimi Chair in Transplant Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is also director of the Legorreta Center for Clinical Transplantation Tolerance. His clinical and research interests are primarily focused on development of methods to induce immunological tolerance in organ transplantation.
Leonardo Riella, MD, PhD
Dr. Leonardo V. Riella is the Harold and Ellen Danser Endowed Chair in Transplantation and Associate Professor of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. He is the medical director of kidney transplantation, associate director of the Legorreta Center for Transplantation Tolerance, and a senior investigator at the Center of Transplantation Sciences.
Camille Kotton, TTS Councilor, convened with Tatsuo Kawai and Leonardo Riella to delve into the pioneering endeavor of transplanting the first genetically edited pig kidney into a human recipient.
TTS 2024 - Newsletter # 2 - March 21, 2024
Extended Deadline:
April 5, 2024, 23:59EST
Submitting an abstract to the TTS 2024 Congress offers a platform to showcase groundbreaking research, connect with global experts, and contribute to advancements in transplantation medicine, fostering collaboration and influencing the field's future direction.
TTS & WIT Awards Deadline Extension
Submission Deadline Extended: April 8, 2024
The Medawar Prize
The award recognizes outstanding investigators whose contributions have had a profound influence on the field of organ transplantation. The Medawar Prize is universally considered to be commensurate with the most outstanding world prize for scientific achievement.
TTS Thomas Starzl Innovation Award
Sponsored by:
The award recognizes individuals who, though advanced and original work, have contributed significantly to transplantation, thereby reflecting the spirit pioneered by Dr. Starzl.
TTS Recognition Awards
These awards recognize individuals who have made a major international impact in the field of transplantation. The awards are given out at each International Congress of The Transplantation Society and carry a monetary award of USD $2,000 each.
2024 Education Committee Webinar Series
In collaboration with the various Committees and Sections of the Society, the Education Committee is proud to present a series of educational webinars that have been specially designed for the whole TTS membership. The series has been carefully curated with the aim of addressing a wide range of topics, and drawing on diverse expertise and perspectives from around the world. Covering ethical controversies, cutting edge science, and fundamental challenges in policy-making and clinical care for transplant recipients and donors, we hope the program will provide valuable and engaging opportunities for all members to advance their knowledge and skills.
Click an image below to visit the individual webinar page.
Report on the International Symposium on Pediatric Organ Donation and Transplantation
The Symposium, held from March 6-7 in Ankara, Turkey, addressed challenges, recent advances in clinical and basic science including pediatric domino transplantation, and ways to promote organ donation and practice of transplantation in children worldwide. The program embraced keynote lectures by world-renowned professionals as well as oral and poster presentations from the world.
Transplantation Journal Highlights
Transplantation - Social Media Content
First-in-human Study With LIS1, a Next-generation Porcine Low Immunogenicity Antilymphocyte Immunoglobulin in Kidney Transplantation
Polyclonal rabbit antithymocyte globulins (ATGs) are commonly used in organ transplantation as induction. Anti-N-glycolylneuraminic acid carbohydrate antibodies which develop in response to rabbit carbohydrate antigens might lead to unwanted systemic inflammation. LIS1, the first new generation of antilymphocyte globulins (ALGs) derived from double knockout swine, lacking carbohydrate xenoantigens was already tested in nonhuman primates and rodent models.
The Lower Survival in Patients With Alcoholism and Hepatitis C Continues in the DAA Era
Alcohol liver disease (ALD) may coexist with hepatitis C (HCV) in many transplant recipients (alcoholic cirrhosis with hepatitis C [AHC]). Our objective was to determine whether there were differences in postliver transplantation outcomes of patients with AHC when compared with those with alcoholic cirrhosis (AC) and/or alcoholic hepatitis (AH).
Transplantation Direct - Social Media Content
Epidemiology of Epstein-Barr Virus Chronic High Viral Load in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) chronic high viral load (CHVL) may be defined by >16 000 copies/mL whole blood or >200 copies/105 peripheral blood mononuclear cells in >50% samples exceeding 6 mo. EBV CHVL has only been characterized in a few small pediatric studies, with heterogeneous results and unclear clinical significance.
Research Grants Program - Letter of Intent Deadline: April 30th, 2024
In Case You Missed It - Recent Recordings
Click an image below to visit the indiviual presentation page.
Chinese scientists have successfully transplanted the liver of a gene-edited pig into a brain-dead human
Prof. Dou Kefeng (TTS Member)
A research team co-led by Dou Kefeng, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Tao Kaishan, director of the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery at Xijing Hospital affiliated with Air Force Medical University, successfully transplanted an entire liver of a multi-gene edited pig into the body of a brain-dead patient as an auxiliary measure on March 10.
About Professor Dou Kefeng - Click to read
Professor Kefeng Dou, renowned expert in the field of general surgery and organ transplantation, is the academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, director of Organ Transplantation Institute of Air Force Medical University (the former Fourth Military Medical University), the Central Military Commission health care consultant, vice chairman of surgical branch of Chinese Medical Association (CMA), vice president of organ transplant physicians branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association (CMDA), chairman of general surgery committee of Chinese Research Hospital Association, standing member and head of xenotransplantation group of Organ Transplantation Society of CMA, chairman of the General Surgical Committee of the PLA. He is visiting scholar of Queen Mary Hospital and honorary professor, University of Hong Kong.
CME Accredited Online Ecucation Activity: Cytomegalovirus (CME)
Third-party educational activity (not developed by TTS) but open to the TTS community.
Join Drs. Kotton, Pereira, and Razonable as they discuss the management of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in solid organ transplant (SOT) patients. Topics covered include treatment challenges, laboratory testing, and new therapy for refractory or resistant CMV.
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