Protecting The Endothelial Glycocalyx To Improve Transplant Rates And Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$725,180.00
Summary
A tiny, previously overlooked, structure called the endothelial glycocalyx (EG) is now known to ‘waterproof’ blood vessels. This grant extends our exciting preliminary data in the field of lung transplantation, where we have shown that EG loss is the main cause of a poorly functioning organ, to develop new tests of lung and kidney function, as well as treatments to resuscitate marginal organs outside the body, so improving access to and the safety of transplantation.
The Impact Of The Identification And Inclusion Of Acceptable HLA-mismatches On The Transplant Potential Of Highly-sensitised Renal Transplant Candidates.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$100,323.00
Summary
In Australia, allocation of donor kidneys are currently weighted largely on the degree of donor-recipient HLA compatibility. However, not all HLA mismatches leads to negative outcomes. Acceptable HLA-mismatches are antigen mismatches that can be considered compatible at a structural and functional level and have been applied to circumvent the problem of difficulty finding suitable donors for highly-sensitised transplant candidates. We apply this concept to the Australian kidney transplant popula ....In Australia, allocation of donor kidneys are currently weighted largely on the degree of donor-recipient HLA compatibility. However, not all HLA mismatches leads to negative outcomes. Acceptable HLA-mismatches are antigen mismatches that can be considered compatible at a structural and functional level and have been applied to circumvent the problem of difficulty finding suitable donors for highly-sensitised transplant candidates. We apply this concept to the Australian kidney transplant population.Read moreRead less
The Dead Heart Project: When Is A 'dead' Heart Truly Dead?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,672,053.00
Summary
Best practice treatment for end-stage heart failure is heart transplantation, yet donor heart availability is deficient and limited by current practices. Using extensive basic and clinical research approaches, this project aims to increase donor heart quantity and quality by profiling current and novel donor heart sources, and extending donor heart storage time and quality using a novel transport device and therapeutic agents - thus increasing the number of successful transplant recipients.
CAN PRIORITY ALLOCATION OF DECEASED DONOR KIDNEYS BASED ON EPLET AND BROAD HLA-ANTIGEN MATCHING IMPROVE KIDNEY TRANSPLANT POTENTIAL, REDUCES IMMUNOGENICITY AND IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES IN INDIGENOUS KIDNEY TRANSPLANT CANDIDATES?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$334,472.00
Summary
Although kidney transplantation has been shown to improve life expectancy in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), indigenous patients with CKD wait twice as long on the wait-list before transplant and have up to a 3-fold increased risk of rejection and infections resulting in graft loss and death respectively compared to non-indigenous patients. A better understanding of the immunological make-up of indigenous patients may help to reduce the risk of complications and improve survival.
Global Data Mapping And Evaluation Of Needs, Capacities And Benchmarks In Organ Donation And Transplantation: Informing Effective Local And International Health Policy To Better Meet The Needs Of Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,575.00
Summary
Global shortages of donor organs limit the provision of reliable and equitable access to solid organ transplantation. As a result, many are excluded from waiting lists, others deteriorate whilst awaiting transplantation, and some seek to purchase the needed organ. Countries have a responsibility to provide transplantation services sufficient to meet population need. This project evaluates international data for key interventions that may impact on waitlisting, donation and transplant practices.
Strategies To Achieve Kidney Transplant Tolerance In A Clinically-relevant Model
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$663,490.00
Summary
The acceptance of kidney transplants without immunosuppression (tolerance) would avoid the side effects of these powerful drugs and improve long-term graft survival. Donor brain death causes inflammation in transplanted kidneys which can block tolerance. In this project, we aim to determine whether expression of a naturally-occurring soluble anti-inflammatory molecule in the liver can prevent this inflammation, allowing tolerance to develop.
Increasing Rates Of Organ Donor Registration: An RCT To Determine The Differential Effectiveness Of Electronic And Interpersonal Information Interventions.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$240,188.00
Summary
Australia has one of the lowest organ donation rates in the world. One of the key strategies identified to improve organ donation is increasing the number of people registered on the Australian Organ Donation Registry (AODR). This study will compare the effectiveness of two strategies designed to encourage students attending TAFE to register their organ donation intentions with the AODR.