Kidney Transplant Program

Research

Mayo Clinic scientists, doctors and surgeons develop kidney transplant insights and innovations that make transplants safer and available to more people. They conduct laboratory studies, clinical trials and other research on many aspects of transplantation. They often collaborate with colleagues nationally and overseas, sharing their insights to improve care for people everywhere:

Desensitization. Mayo Clinic kidney experts (nephrologists) were part of a national study that developed a procedure to alter people's immune systems so that they can accept kidneys from any donor. For some, this procedure — called desensitization — means less time waiting for an acceptable match and less time on dialysis.
Multiorgan advances. Mayo's kidney and diabetes experts are part of an international study to develop better methods for doing pancreas and kidney transplants together, improving outcomes for people with kidney failure due to complications of diabetes.

And in another recent multiorgan research study, Mayo Clinic scientists found long-term benefits to the kidney in simultaneous liver-kidney transplant.
Paired donations. Mayo experts have assessed patient outcomes of the clinic's three-site kidney paired-donor program, improving this important and evolving transplant option.
Anti-rejection pioneers. And Mayo Clinic researchers were among the first to develop treatments to counteract antibodies to prevent rejection of a donor kidney with an incompatible blood type.

Read more about the many kidney transplant research studies supported by the Transplant Research Center.