Cafe Sci SV: Organ Transplantation
Improving Organ Transplantation: Tony Allison, D.Phil., B.M.; Transplant Scientist Every year, kidney transplants improve the quality of life of more than 20,000 U.S. citizens who are on renal dialysis. Heart and kidney transplants keep alive many thousands of patients who would otherwise die. Organ transplants are rejected unless recipients are immunosuppressed. Cyclosporine and Tacrolimus have been used for that purpose for decades, but they damage kidneys and have other adverse effects. Allison applied observations on inherited defects of purine synthesis to design an immunosuppressive drug ( mycophenolate mofetil) with fewer side effects. It is now widely used in transplantation.
Organs that are stored before transplantation are anoxic, and when blood passes through them after the operation they can be damaged. A way to minimize reperfusion injury, and thereby improve the function of transplanted organs, will be discussed.
Allison received a D.Phil. and a medical qualification from Oxford University. He was a travelling fellow with Linus Pauling at the California Institute of Technology. The first half of his career was spent with the Medical Research Council ( M.R.C.) of the U.K. In 1981 he accepted a position as a Vice President for Research at <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syntex> Syntex, Palo Alto, where he initiated the development of CellCept, which is marketed by Roche to prevent organ graft rejection. Allison is currently V.P. for Research of Alavita Pharmaceuticals, Mountain View.
<http://www.sri.com/> SRI Menlo Park Middlefield Road at Ringwood - Dining
Room in the International Building
Click here for map and directions Do not park at SRI's main entrance at 333 Ravenswood Ave. Entrances to Conference Center parking are next to the church on Ravenswood and at Ringwood and Middlefield.
Coffee, tea and biscotti will be complimentary, provided by SRI - Bring your own mug if you wish to avoid using disposable cups. Courtesy of <http://www.keplers.com/> Kepler's there will be a drawing for a $30 gift card for books or merchandise at Kepler's on El Camino Real in Menlo Park. Those who choose to enter the drawing will have their names added to the Kepler's mailing list.
Special thanks to Kepler's for supporting Cafe Sci.
