Transplant research

The Transplant Center includes transplant services and research at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. In clinical and basic research, researchers study improved surgical procedures, develop new anti-rejection medications (immunosuppressive medications), study how to improve outcomes and care for people who need transplants. Research also focuses on finding alternative therapies for people who may not need a transplant.

Mayo Clinic researchers study several areas of transplant research, including:

  1. Heart and lung transplant. In heart and lung transplant research, researchers study new surgical procedures, outcomes after transplants and other areas. Researchers also study other potential treatment options including transplanting living organs from one species to another (xenotransplantation) and gene therapy.
  2. Liver transplant. In liver transplant research, researchers study how to improve outcomes and care for people who need a liver transplant. Researchers also study hepatitis C and B, immunosuppressive medications, a bioartificial liver and other areas.
  3. Kidney, pancreas and islet cell transplant. Researchers study living-donor kidney transplants, kidney transplants between incompatible blood types (ABO incompatible kidney transplants), kidney transplants for recipients whose protein substances (antibodies) react against their donors' cells (positive crossmatch kidney transplants) and immunosuppressive medications. In addition, Mayo transplant researchers study what happens to kidneys years after transplant to try to determine why some kidneys fail and others last longer.
  4. Blood and marrow transplant. In blood and marrow transplant, researchers study how to improve your immune system's function, how to improve outcomes and how to reduce recurrence of your condition after a blood and marrow transplant.

Transplant Center research leadership

  1. Michael J. Krowka, M.D., Associate Director, Transplant Center