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Pratham Patel

Project title: Partial Freezing of Liver Using Novel Small-Molecule Ice Recrystallization Inhibitors

Supervisor: Dr. Jason Acker

(Studentship Sponsored by ATI)

Please provide a short abstract of your project funded by the ATI summer studentship.
Oxidative damage, which reduces oxygen delivery and induces cell aging, is prevalent at lower storage temperatures. RBCs lose their ability to withstand oxidative stress as they age in circulation. Different donors have different relative amounts of biologically young and old RBCs, so mitigating oxidative damage could add equivalence and improve ex vivo use of RBC in ex vivo organ perfusion research. We sought to investigate the effects of N-acetyl cysteine supplementation on protection against oxidative damage of biologically young and old RBCs. This study provides some insight into young RBC’s greater responsiveness to NAC against diamide-induced oxidative damage, helping guide future RBC storage optimization.

How has the support from the ß÷ßäÉçÇø Transplant Institute aided your success in conducting research?
I am extremely grateful for the support provided by the ß÷ßäÉçÇø Transplant Institute because it has allowed me to learn the scientific method first-hand by enabling me to lead my own research project full-time. I was challenged throughout the project, whether it was during planning of the experiment, performing the experiment, or realizing adjustments needed to be made for future experiments. Persevering through these experiments enabled me to accept setbacks as an inevitable part of trying to become a better student researcher. I learned many technical skills, such as becoming imaging flow cytometry certified, performing red blood cell assays, and analyzing my data. Because I led the development of each step of the scientific
process, I saw the interrelations between different steps, how to design experiments that effectively answer the research questions, and the non-linear path that often characterizes a project.

How would you describe your research project in plain language for a general audience?
Red blood cells (RBC), the major cell component of blood that carries oxygen, are stored outside of the body after being collected from a donor at fridge temperatures (2-6 °C). This is done to slow down the use of limited energy outside of the body, and to slow down oxidative damage that naturally occurs during storage. Adequate preservation of RBC is essential for donating blood and for perfusing organs outside of the body. In the body, RBCs age and become less resistant to oxidative damage; each donor has a spectrum of old to young RBCs in their blood. We studied old and young RBC’s response to an antioxidant, a substance that protects against oxidative stress, against the artificial oxidative stressor diamide, and also against storage-caused oxidative damage by storing samples of different donors in the fridge for 3 and 6 weeks. Young RBCs were more protected than Old RBCs when supplemented with the antioxidant against diamide-induced damage. This elucidates young RBCs’ greater responsiveness to antioxidant supplementation when faced with oxidative stress caused by diamide. The results help guide future investigations into the mechanistic difference between young and old RBC’s tolerance to oxidative stress, an essential step in improving organ perfusion done outside of the body.

Ivy Fixsen

Project title: Molecular characterization of microvascular inflammation in early post-transplant renal allograft biopsies

(Studentship Sponsored by Paladin Labs Inc.)

Supervisor: Dr. Benjamin Adam

Please provide a short abstract of your project funded by ATI summer studentship.
In cases of end-stage renal disease, kidney transplants often save lives. However, the long-term success of these operations can be complicated by a process known as antibody-mediated rejection, or AMBR. In these cases, the human immune system produces donor-specific antibodies which attack the transplanted organ. In other transplant patients, kidney biopsies show histological features that are indicative of ABMR but have no donor specificity, which raises the potential issue of nonspecific AMBR caused by perioperative ischemia. This project aims to better understand the molecular characteristics of DSA-negative AMBR in early post-transplantation biopsies through gene analysis using NanoString nCounter technology.

How has the support from the ß÷ßäÉçÇø Transplant Institute helped you succeed in your research?
As this is my first research project, I am grateful to the ß÷ßäÉçÇø Transplant Institute for the guidance they’ve provided. Additionally, I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to meet other award recipients and members of the scientific research community through summer student mixers and lecture events.

How would you describe your research project in plain language for a public audience?
The focus of my project is to understand the molecular characteristics of transplant rejection, specifically in kidneys. By learning more about the specific antibodies involved in kidney rejection, it will be easier to diagnose and treat. Additionally, tissue inflammation occurring after the transplant may have similarities in the clinical presentation and appearance, but these will no longer be misdiagnosed as acute transplant rejection.

Abigail Ackroyd

Project title: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of the Multidisciplinary Support To Access living donor Kidney Transplant (MuST AKT)

(Studentship sponsored by Paladin Labs Inc.)

Supervisor: Dr. Soroush Shojai

Please provide a short abstract of your project funded by ATI summer studentship.
The optimal treatment for patients with chronic kidney disease is living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT); however, many patients express difficulty communicating about LDKT. The Multidisciplinary Support to Access living donor Kidney Transplant (MuST AKT) intervention was developed to address these challenges and increase LDKT in ß÷ßäÉçÇø. A pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted to evaluate the efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability of the MuST AKT intervention. Evaluation includes descriptive statistics of session attendance and facilitator checklists to determine intervention feasibility, which will be used to inform the revision of the MuST AKT intervention to be tested in a definitive RCT.

How has the support from the ß÷ßäÉçÇø Transplant Institute helped you succeed in your research?
The support from the ß÷ßäÉçÇø Transplant Institute has allowed me to continue developing essential skills that will be critical in my career advancement in the scientific field. I have been able to enhance my written communication skills with continued opportunity to contribute to analytical reports and journal articles. I have progressed my teamwork skills with continuous communication and collaboration with other team members on a variety of tasks. Presenting reports and other material during team meetings has elevated my ability to deliver engaging and informative presentations. Additionally, I have gained invaluable experience that has allowed me to identify areas of interest that I could potentially pursue as a career.

How would you describe your research project in plain language for a public audience?
People living with kidney failure have two main treatment options; kidney transplantation and dialysis. Transplantation from a living donor is the best treatment option as it offers longer survival, a better quality of life, and savings to the healthcare system when compared to dialysis. Within the ß÷ßäÉçÇø health care system, there is a great need for donor kidneys to address the increase in kidney failure. In order to increase the number of living donations, the MuST AKT program teaches, encourages, and supports both the potential recipient and their social network. The MuST AKT program guides recipients through many of the challenges that come with finding a living donor. Addressing these challenges gives the recipient confidence when initiating conversations about living kidney donation without asking the question directly. Providing recipients with valuable tools and resources helps them create and share their story with their broader social network.