Optimising normothermic perfusion of the kidney
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optimising normothermic perfusion of the kidney
IRAS ID
274999
Contact name
Peter Friend
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 26 days
Research summary
This study aims to improve the performance and capabilities of a novel device for preserving kidneys prior to transplantation. The current standard of care is for kidneys to be transported from the donor hospital to the recipient on ice (Static Cold Storage, SCS). Whilst cooling the organ slows the rate of metabolism and deterioration, it precludes assessment of the kidney in a functioning state and does not prevent deterioration. We are currently running a phase 1 clinical trial investigating the safety and feasibility of using up to 24 hours of ex-vivo normothermic preservation prior to transplantation, building on a body of preclinical research that indicates that this technique may be superior to conventional storage on ice.
The eventual aim of this work is to produce a device and process that can successfully preserve kidneys outside the body for multiple days. Being able to safely do this would provide sufficient time for treatments to be applied that may reduce the immune reaction that the recipient has to the donor organ following transplantation. If successful, this strategy would potentially allow us to reduce the burden of immunosuppression on the recipient, which at present must be taken for the rest of their lives.
The purpose of this current study is to use human kidneys which have been retrieved for transplantation but subsequently found to be unsuitable, to further refine our perfusion machine and processes. We will make a range of modifications and changes to our machine, to make the procedure more suitable for kidney preservation lasting multiple days. We will then test these changes and modifications using human kidneys which have been retrieved with the intention of transplantation but found to be unsuitable. If successful, this research would allow time for the delivery of advanced, novel therapeutics to repair and modify these donor organs.
REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/PR/1546
Date of REC Opinion
18 Nov 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion