UBC scientists Dr. Stephen Withers (UBC professor emeritus of chemistry) and Dr. Jayachandran Kizhakkedathu (UBC professor in the department of pathology and laboratory medicine and the Centre for Blood Research) have helped achieve a breakthrough for kidney transplants. In a first-in-human experiment, the enzyme-converted kidney was transplanted into a brain-dead recipient with consent from the family, allowing researchers to observe the immune response without risking a life.
The research, published today in Nature Biomedical Engineering, used special enzymes the pair developed to strip away blood-type markers. The treated kidney functioned for two days without rejection and showed only mild reaction by day three—far less than in a typical mismatch.
The approach could shorten wait times for type-O patients, who make up more than half of kidney waitlists, and allow faster, safer use of organs from deceased donors. UBC spin-off Avivo Biomedical is now preparing the enzymes for clinical trials and future use in both transplantation and universal donor blood.
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