Testing, saving and reconditioning kidneys for transplant
Dr Thompson is an NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Transplant Surgery based in Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital. Her surgical training has been in the North-East.
Her PhD investigated the delivery of novel therapeutics (cell and gene therapies) during normothermic machine perfusion to recondition marginal kidneys prior to transplantation.
Emily’s innovative research has won the most prestigious prize in European Transplant Surgery at the International ESOT Congress - the Leonardo Da Vinci Award. Furthermore, she has also won the British Transplant Society’s Medawar Medal, The Roy Calne Award, and the Royal College of Surgeons’ Patey Prize, a unique set of accolades. She is the President of The Herrick Society, which represents transplant surgical trainees in the UK.
Her ongoing research focuses on developing therapeutics for improving organ quality that can be delivered prior to transplantation.
Dr Thompson is an NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Transplant Surgery based in Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital. Her surgical training has been in the North-East.
Her PhD investigated the delivery of novel therapeutics (cell and gene therapies) during normothermic machine perfusion to recondition marginal kidneys prior to transplantation.
Emily’s innovative research has won the most prestigious prize in European Transplant Surgery at the International ESOT Congress - the Leonardo Da Vinci Award. Furthermore, she has also won the British Transplant Society’s Medawar Medal, The Roy Calne Award, and the Royal College of Surgeons’ Patey Prize, a unique set of accolades. She is the President of The Herrick Society, which represents transplant surgical trainees in the UK.
Her ongoing research focuses on developing therapeutics for improving organ quality that can be delivered prior to transplantation.
Professor Neil Sheerin is a Professor of Nephrology and Consultant Nephrologist at the Freeman Hospital’s Renal Services Centre, specialising in nephrology and renal transplantation.
After training in Nephrology at Guy’s Hospital, Professor Sheerin was a senior lecturer at King’s College London before taking up his current post at Newcastle University and the Freeman Hospital.
Professor Sheerin’s clinical and laboratory research investigates the immune mechanisms of renal disease, including complement-mediated renal and transplant injury. He has been awarded over £10m in external grant funding since 2017 and has published over 240 journal publications. Professor Sheerin leads the renal clinical research group based in the Trust and is Director of Nephrology Clinical Service. He is also one of the Consultant Nephrologists responsible for the National Atypical Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome service, providing diagnostics and treatment for a rare complement-mediated renal disease.
Dr Thompson is an NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Transplant Surgery based in Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital. Her surgical training has been in the North-East.
Her PhD investigated the delivery of novel therapeutics (cell and gene therapies) during normothermic machine perfusion to recondition marginal kidneys prior to transplantation.
Emily’s innovative research has won the most prestigious prize in European Transplant Surgery at the International ESOT Congress - the Leonardo Da Vinci Award. Furthermore, she has also won the British Transplant Society’s Medawar Medal, The Roy Calne Award, and the Royal College of Surgeons’ Patey Prize, a unique set of accolades. She is the President of The Herrick Society, which represents transplant surgical trainees in the UK.
Her ongoing research focuses on developing therapeutics for improving organ quality that can be delivered prior to transplantation.
Testing, saving and reconditioning kidneys for transplant
Dr Thompson is an NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Transplant Surgery based in Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital. Her surgical training has been in the North-East.
Her PhD investigated the delivery of novel therapeutics (cell and gene therapies) during normothermic machine perfusion to recondition marginal kidneys prior to transplantation.
Emily’s innovative research has won the most prestigious prize in European Transplant Surgery at the International ESOT Congress - the Leonardo Da Vinci Award. Furthermore, she has also won the British Transplant Society’s Medawar Medal, The Roy Calne Award, and the Royal College of Surgeons’ Patey Prize, a unique set of accolades. She is the President of The Herrick Society, which represents transplant surgical trainees in the UK.
Her ongoing research focuses on developing therapeutics for improving organ quality that can be delivered prior to transplantation.
Professor Wilson is an Honorary Professor of Transplant Surgery at Newcastle University and a Consultant Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgeon based at the Institute of Transplantation in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
His research interests focus on organ utilisation and preservation. He is the Chief Investigator for the pioneering OrQA study investigating the use of artificial intelligence software as a decision-making support tool in transplantation.
He graduated from Newcastle Medical School in 1999 and did his initial training in Newcastle before an attachment to the University of Cambridge in 2001. In 2002 he returned to Newcastle to complete his surgical training alongside his PhD research in organ preservation. He is the General Secretary of the British Transplantation Society, with an international research reputation, having received over £13m in external grant funding since 2015.
Professor Neil Sheerin is a Professor of Nephrology and Consultant Nephrologist at the Freeman Hospital’s Renal Services Centre, specialising in nephrology and renal transplantation.
After training in Nephrology at Guy’s Hospital, Professor Sheerin was a senior lecturer at King’s College London before taking up his current post at Newcastle University and the Freeman Hospital.
Professor Sheerin’s clinical and laboratory research investigates the immune mechanisms of renal disease, including complement-mediated renal and transplant injury. He has been awarded over £10m in external grant funding since 2017 and has published over 240 journal publications. Professor Sheerin leads the renal clinical research group based in the Trust and is Director of Nephrology Clinical Service. He is also one of the Consultant Nephrologists responsible for the National Atypical Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome service, providing diagnostics and treatment for a rare complement-mediated renal disease.
Dr Thompson is an NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Transplant Surgery based in Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital. Her surgical training has been in the North-East.
Her PhD investigated the delivery of novel therapeutics (cell and gene therapies) during normothermic machine perfusion to recondition marginal kidneys prior to transplantation.
Emily’s innovative research has won the most prestigious prize in European Transplant Surgery at the International ESOT Congress - the Leonardo Da Vinci Award. Furthermore, she has also won the British Transplant Society’s Medawar Medal, The Roy Calne Award, and the Royal College of Surgeons’ Patey Prize, a unique set of accolades. She is the President of The Herrick Society, which represents transplant surgical trainees in the UK.
Her ongoing research focuses on developing therapeutics for improving organ quality that can be delivered prior to transplantation.
Professor Wilson is an Honorary Professor of Transplant Surgery at Newcastle University and a Consultant Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgeon based at the Institute of Transplantation in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
His research interests focus on organ utilisation and preservation. He is the Chief Investigator for the pioneering OrQA study investigating the use of artificial intelligence software as a decision-making support tool in transplantation.
He graduated from Newcastle Medical School in 1999 and did his initial training in Newcastle before an attachment to the University of Cambridge in 2001. In 2002 he returned to Newcastle to complete his surgical training alongside his PhD research in organ preservation. He is the General Secretary of the British Transplantation Society, with an international research reputation, having received over £13m in external grant funding since 2015.
Kidney disease is a global health problem, with an estimated 1 in 10 adults affected, and predicted to become the 5th highest killer of people worldwide.
5,000 people in the UK are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, and 30,000 are undergoing dialysis, costing the NHS an estimated £34,000 each per annum.
Donated kidneys are often discarded due to uncertainty about how they will perform for the recipient - currently, there is no standardised test to analyse the quality of donated organs.
This project will create a rapid test to accurately assess whether an organ is suitable for transplant, reducing organ transplant waiting times and costs for the healthcare system.
By providing transplant teams with a rapid, standardised test to assess the viability of kidneys for transplant, this project will improve transplant success rates, reduce organ wastage, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. This breakthrough would not only alleviate the critical shortage of transplantable organs but also reduce the financial burden of chronic kidney disease on healthcare systems. The project's success also holds the potential to establish reconditioning centres for donated organs, and ultimately offers hope for countless patients in need of life-saving transplants.
Developing a rapid assay for use in transplant assessment and reconditioning centres to increase the availability of organs for transplant
This project aims to develop a Six Gene Signature test which assesses six proteins involved in organ inflammation, repair and regeneration. This will be used to accurately assess the suitability of kidneys for transplantation. Building upon the success of an existing liver assessment test, this research aims to prove the viability of extending the test to kidneys. By integrating the test into practice and offering advanced therapies at reconditioning centres, the project seeks to boost transplant numbers, improve patient quality of life and reduce waiting times for life-saving procedures.
The development of a reliable diagnostic test to assess kidney viability for transplantation and the effect of ex vivo treatments on reconditioning the organs prior to transplantation.
This project aims to increase the availability of viable kidneys for transplant, which has the potential to revolutionise outcomes for dialysis patients. The Six Gene Signature test has the potential to become an integral part of clinical pathways, and will be instrumental in the creation of centres for reconditioning kidneys prior to transplantation.
Kidney disease is estimated to affect 10% of the global health population,1 and is anticipated to become the fifth most common cause of death.
The Six Gene Signature test represents a material step forward in the efficiency of kidney transplantation. Currently, decisions about the suitability of kidneys for transplant are based on subjective assessments by surgeons, leading to variations in donor organ usage rates across medical centres.
By applying the Six Gene Signature test, surgeons stand to gain valuable insight into the viability of an organ for transplant - without overriding their expertise - leading to better-informed decisions in highly time-sensitive procedures. The ability of the Six Gene Signature test to deliver rapid results is also invaluable in time-sensitive transplantation procedures, enabling organs to be promptly evaluated and transplanted.
The concept of reconditioning centres, where organs are able to undergo assessment and treatment before being transplanted, holds immense promise in increasing the proportion of donated organs that are successfully transplanted, in addition to reducing transplantation waiting times. The Six Gene Signature test is an essential component of both the establishment of reconditioning centres, and their ongoing function.
By increasing the numbers of organs available for transplant, waitlist numbers and waiting times will be reduced - reducing in turn the amount of time that patients spend undergoing costly dialysis, and potentially saving tens of millions of pounds. The impact goes far beyond economics, though, with the potential to significantly improve the quality and quantity of life of the recipients of the donated organs.
References
With the demand for kidney transplants surging amidst a growing and ageing population, there is an acute shortage of suitable organs for transplantation worldwide.2 Consequently, transplant waiting lists have ballooned, leaving many patients in need of life-saving procedures. However, in the UK, around 20 to 25% of deceased donor organs donated for transplantation are not used because of concerns over viability.3
The Six Gene Signature test, developed at Newcastle University, offers a solution. By determining organ viability for transplant, this test equips surgeons with insights into the health of the organ, enabling them to make informed decisions with confidence. By maximising the utilisation of available kidneys, hospitals and transplant centres will be able to cut waiting times, minimising the period of illness and dialysis dependence for the recipient.
References
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Loss of kidney function, otherwise known as end-of-stage chronic kidney disease or kidney failure results in the need for a kidney transplant: at the end of March 2023, there were around 7,000 patients waiting for a transplant in the UK.4 Whilst waiting for a suitable donor to become available for transplant, patients will receive dialysis - a procedure which removes waste products and excess fluid from the blood. Dialysis involves three hospital visits a week, lasting approximately four hours per visit.5 This can place a considerable strain on the body, and individuals face heightened risks such as infection or even death.
References
Loss of kidney function, otherwise known as end-of-stage chronic kidney disease or kidney failure results in the need for a kidney transplant: at the end of March 2023, there were around 7,000 patients waiting for a transplant in the UK.4 Whilst waiting for a suitable donor to become available for transplant, patients will receive dialysis - a procedure which removes waste products and excess fluid from the blood. Dialysis involves three hospital visits a week, lasting approximately four hours per visit.5 This can place a considerable strain on the body, and individuals face heightened risks such as infection or even death.
References
The financial costs of dialysis treatment are significant, with expenses averaging between £29,000 and £33,000 per patient annually.6 By 2033, the number of individuals living with chronic kidney disease in the UK is projected to reach 3.9 million. These figures show the considerable economic impact kidney disease could have on the NHS, and the importance of implementing cost-effective interventions to address this growing challenge. A recent health economic analysis confirmed that if just 1 extra kidney transplant was conducted every week in the UK (1 out of the 8 discarded kidneys), the NHS would save £40 million in dialysis costs over 5 years.
References
The financial costs of dialysis treatment are significant, with expenses averaging between £29,000 and £33,000 per patient annually.6 By 2033, the number of individuals living with chronic kidney disease in the UK is projected to reach 3.9 million. These figures show the considerable economic impact kidney disease could have on the NHS, and the importance of implementing cost-effective interventions to address this growing challenge. A recent health economic analysis confirmed that if just 1 extra kidney transplant was conducted every week in the UK (1 out of the 8 discarded kidneys), the NHS would save £40 million in dialysis costs over 5 years.
References
The Six Gene Signature test, established at Newcastle University, assesses the presence of six proteins in the organ selected for transplant. These six proteins are involved in organ inflammation, repair and regeneration, and are Interleukin-(5,12,15,16), C-reactive protein, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF).
These proteins will be fine-tuned to focus on kidney function and will be used to determine if the donated organ is suitable for transplantation. This will be done by testing if certain proteins in the sample are higher or lower than a set value. This information can be used to identify organs that have been effectively prepared for transplantation and to predict the success of the transplant. This signature can be used to identify organs suitably reconditioned for transplantation, and as a marker of transplant success.
Once this test is established, the team will collaborate with reconditioning centres to assess its reliability. This will maximise the utilisation of donated organs by enhancing the success rate of organs that may have otherwise been deemed unsuitable for transplantation. Leveraging advanced technologies in these centres will expand the pool of transplantable kidneys in the UK, ultimately increasing the number of successful kidney transplants.
The Six Gene Signature test, established at Newcastle University, assesses the presence of six proteins in the organ selected for transplant. These six proteins are involved in organ inflammation, repair and regeneration, and are Interleukin-(5,12,15,16), C-reactive protein, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF).
These proteins will be fine-tuned to focus on kidney function and will be used to determine if the donated organ is suitable for transplantation. This will be done by testing if certain proteins in the sample are higher or lower than a set value. This information can be used to identify organs that have been effectively prepared for transplantation and to predict the success of the transplant. This signature can be used to identify organs suitably reconditioned for transplantation, and as a marker of transplant success.
Once this test is established, the team will collaborate with reconditioning centres to assess its reliability. This will maximise the utilisation of donated organs by enhancing the success rate of organs that may have otherwise been deemed unsuitable for transplantation. Leveraging advanced technologies in these centres will expand the pool of transplantable kidneys in the UK, ultimately increasing the number of successful kidney transplants.
In the future, the Six Gene Signature test aims to be a rapid testing platform. This test provides accurate results for urine, blood, or bile within two hours, and is also being studied for its effectiveness on other organs. It swiftly and reliably confirms the readiness of a reconditioned organ for transplantation.
In the future, the Six Gene Signature test aims to be a rapid testing platform. This test provides accurate results for urine, blood, or bile within two hours, and is also being studied for its effectiveness on other organs. It swiftly and reliably confirms the readiness of a reconditioned organ for transplantation.
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