Research Areas

Research at the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute ranges from fundamental questions in transplantation biology to translational and clinical endeavors aimed at improving the outcomes of solid organ transplantation and ultimately, inducing immunological tolerance.

The experimental models used range from simple invertebrate organisms to rodents and non-human primates. Human immunology studies in both adult and pediatric patient populations are frequently undertaken to elucidate the mechanisms of allograft acceptance (tolerance) and to develop novel strategies to induce tolerance in organ recipients.

The types of organ grafts that are the subject of our research include abdominal organs (the liver, kidney, pancreas, pancreatic islets, and small bowel), thoracic organs (heart and lungs), and composite tissue grafts (e.g., limbs).