Richard E. Link, MD, PhD, presented “Will Xenografts Take the Tragedy Out of Transplant” during the 28th Annual Innovations in Urologic Practice conference on September 22, 2024, in Denver, Colorado.
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How to cite: Link, Richard E. “Will Xenografts Take the Tragedy Out of Transplant.” September 22, 2024. Accessed Dec 2024. https://grandroundsinurology.com/will-xenografts-take-the-tragedy-out-of-transplant/
Will Xenografts Take the Tragedy Out of Transplant – Summary
Michael S. Davis, MD, MBA, MHA, FACS, examines the potential of renal xenografts to alleviate the organ shortage crisis in transplantation, focusing on developments in pig-to-human kidney transplants.
In this 27-minute presentation, Dr. Davis reviews the history of transplantation, tracing advancements from early animal experiments to the refinement of immunosuppressive therapies and gene editing techniques. He highlights the tragic aspects of current transplantation, noting the limited availability of donor organs. Davis presents recent studies, including preclinical trials at the University of Alabama and NYU, that demonstrated the feasibility of pig kidney transplants in brain-dead human decedents.
With an increasing number of patients awaiting kidney transplants—projected to surpass one million by 2030—the need for innovative solutions like xenotransplantation is urgent. While pig kidneys are favored, barriers such as xeno-antigenic rejection, protein incompatibility, and potential infectious disease transmission remain significant challenges.
About The 28th Annual Innovations in Urologic Practice:
Presented by co-chairs Mohit Khera, MD, MBA, MPH, and Michael Coburn, MD, FACS, the Innovations in Urologic Practice conference provides a detailed review and commentary on multiple genitourinary and urologic diseases. Among the featured oncological topics are bladder cancer and immunotherapies, as well as upper tract cancer management, prostate cancer, including state-of-the-art imaging, focal therapy, and MRI. Experts also discuss new tools and techniques for nephrectomy and treating advanced renal cell carcinoma. In terms of general urological approaches, the conference also includes pelvic reconstruction and trauma; men’s health topics like male infertility, andrology, and sexual dysfunction; OAB and voiding dysfunctions; and ways to diagnose and treat infections in the urology patient.
For further educational activities from this conference, visit our collection page.