Our Research
Our research objective is clear: to empower transplant teams with access to state-of-the-art assays and algorithms.
These tools signify a paradigm shift in lung transplantation and ex vivo lung perfusion, empowering clinical teams to make enhanced assessments on donor organs, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes. While lungs occupy a central position in our research program, we have ambitious plans to extend this exhilarating research to encompass all solid organs and ex vivo organ perfusion systems.
Biomarker Discovery
The objective of this work is to discover novel biomarkers capable of predicting various patient outcomes. Specifically, our goal is to identify biomarkers that can be utilized to forecast pre-transplant and ex vivo outcomes, post-transplant outcomes, and response to therapy. It is anticipated that a vast reserve of untapped information related to ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) exists. EVLP serves as a pivotal platform for evaluating lungs; however, its true potential lies in the repair and regeneration of donor lungs, representing the future of EVLP.
Biotechnology Development
Within this research theme, our aim is to develop ground-breaking biomedical devices that can streamline biomarker testing. Biomarker discovery lays the groundwork for medical devices, but the translation of biomarkers into diagnostic tests poses a major hurdle for routine clinical implementation. This research activity specifically focuses on two key areas: (i) the engineering of novel, in-house tests and (ii) the establishment of cutting-edge collaborations.
Clinical Application of Artificial Intelligence
We harness the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning to integrate multiple biomarkers and enhance clinical decision-making. Through collaborations with leading computer scientists, our research leverages state-of-the-art machine learning techniques in the field of lung transplantation. This innovative approach not only enables biomarker algorithms that surpass traditional methods but also unlocks vast amounts of untapped data from the transplant procedure. These exciting possibilities open up transformative avenues for clinical decision-making.
Advanced Air Mobility
In 2021, the University Health Network achieved a ground-breaking milestone—the successful delivery of a donor organ for transplant via drone. This achievement clearly indicates the inevitable intersection of medicine and aviation in the near future. It is an exciting area of research that is poised to gain immense prominence and has the potential to revolutionize the transportation of medical supplies, personnel, and even patients, including organs. As part of our research pursuits, we actively collaborate with clinical and industry partners, united by a common goal to push the boundaries of aviation technology and propel the field of transplant medicine forward.