Isolating key drivers of lung transplant rejection
Transplantation has dramatically improved the lives of recipients and enabled them to be active, healthy members of the community1. Unfortunately, transplant rejection occurs in approximately 50% of recipients by 5 years post-transplant and research is key to understanding why this is the case.
A generous donation to Lung Foundation Australia has been awarded to Dr Lucy Sullivan at the Alfred Lung Transplant Unit in Melbourne which is conducting research focusing on understanding the processes involved in transplant rejection caused by antibodies and developing ways of controlling these processes. Dr Sullivan is leading the project, Defeating Transplant Rejection: Antibodies and Strategies to control them, funded by Lung Foundation Australia and The Lungitude Foundation. The project aims to further understand, identify and isolate the key drivers of transplant rejection which they believe are antibodies. It is hoped that the project will identify the specific immune cells that produce these donor specific antibodies. Once these antibody drivers are identified, along with the type of patient that is likely to produce them, they will be better able to match donors to recipients; know which patients are likely not to produce the antibody; and where it is known that a patient might produce the antibody, their care can be structured to minimise risk.
Through our Research Awards program, Lung Foundation Australia raises funds to support research into the cause, treatment and prevention of all lung conditions. Find out more or show your support at lungfoundation.com.au/donate.
Reference:
1 Donate Life, 2018, https://donatelife.gov.au/about-donation/donation-process/about-transplantation