Lung Transplant Research Lab

We recently underwent a comprehensive restructuring of our Lung Transplant Research Program, expanding it to encompass several specialized domains: Clinical Trials, Basic Science, Translational Science, and Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion, each under the guidance of experts in their respective fields.

Within the ambit of our Lung Transplant Research Program, we are actively engaged in the FDA-approved EXPAND II trial, a study exclusive to the United States, setting it apart from the International EXPAND trial. Our primary aim in the EXPAND II trial is to rejuvenate and rehabilitate the so-called "extended criteria donor lungs," which would typically be deemed unsuitable for transplantation. In pursuit of this mission, we have laid the foundation for a biobank and continue to make significant contributions to the Lung Transplant Outcome Group, a prominent national consortium.

In our Lung Transplant Basic Science Laboratory, our focus is dedicated to the study of predictors of primary graft dysfunction (PGD) in lung transplantation. PGD presents a significant challenge, affecting 25-30% of patients within the first 72 hours post-transplantation. The most severe form, PGD grade 3, carries a daunting 50% mortality risk, and its underlying causes remain elusive. Within our laboratory, we are delving into the realm of inflammatory markers associated with PGD and have already published our findings based on our immunoassay. Furthermore, we have successfully established an Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion model, both within our laboratory and in clinical settings, utilizing human donor lungs initially rejected for transplantation, with the goal of rehabilitating them.

Our Lung Transplant Research Program also serves as a national registry, with support from the industry to sustain our efforts. Additionally, we have initiated a global Institutional Review Board (IRB) for a biobank of lung transplant recipients and are actively collecting prospective data for both donors and recipients.

Lung Transplant Clinical Trials

Jasleen Kukreja, MD, MPH
Professor of Surgery
Doris F. and Donald G. Fisher Distinguished Professor
Director, Lung Transplantation
Director, Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion
Director, Advanced Lung Disease ECMO Support
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery