How Human Innovation Transforms Transplantation

NJ Sharing Network (NJSN) Transplant Laboratory Plays Critical Role in Completing the Circle of Life

NJ Sharing Network’s fully accredited, state of-the-art laboratory forms a life-saving bridge between potential organ donors and patients waiting. Our laboratory operates 24/7, performing histocompatibility testing for deceased and living organ donors and recipients, as well as conducting pre- and post-transplant evaluations. The facility has also been recognized for groundbreaking research facilitating the successful transplantation of difficult to match individuals. From the very beginning, the lab has been at the forefront for advocacy and efforts for living kidney donation.

Since NJ Sharing Network was formed in 1988, the lab has been credited with saving the lives of more than 10,000 New Jersey residents. Thanks to Dr. Prakash Rao, PhD, MBA, FACHE, HCLD, VP/CLO, Diagnostics and Research Operations and Director, Transplant Laboratory, for sharing here the many milestones achieved over the years and providing a glimpse at how the lab is “transforming transplantology.”

1988

NJSN laboratory opened

Educators of future laboratory technologists and pathology residents

1994

Advances in technology—Magnetic beads implemented for the isolation of T & B Cells to improve sensitivity of donor/recipient compatibility testing

1999

State-of-the-art DNA technology implemented

2007

1st ABO incompatible transplant

Birth of Paired Exchange external kidney chains

2009

Single Antigen Bead (SAB) assay available for the analysis of antibodies

The importance of living donor transplants introduced to the NJSN senior leadership and transplant community

• Persistence pays

• Collaboration with Saint Barnabas Medical Center

• Living donor advocacy

Programs for paired kidney exchanges: National Kidney Registry (NKR), Alliance for Paired Donation (APD), and Kidney Paired Donation (KPD)

2010

Virtual crossmatches

• Predicts the results of a live crossmatch test

• To our knowledge, our algorithm is the only one that can also predict the strength of the crossmatch test

• Decreases organ discard rates

• Increases organ allocation

2011

Valentine’s Day kidney transplant chain

• 8 transplants (16 lives transformed)

• Largest single-center paired kidney exchange at that time

2013

NJSN’s IgG subtype assay developed

• More specific crossmatch test

• Facilitates safe transplants where they couldn’t be performed before

NJSN’s Histogenomics assay developed

• Helps predicts graft function

• Reduces organ discard

NJSN’s Molecular footprint of tolerance assay developed

• Identifies patients that will need lesser/or no immunosuppression

2014

NJSN’s Regenerative Medicine initiative

• Used adult stem cells from researchconsented deceased donors

• Procured and grew cells from deceased donor bone marrow iliac crest and adipose tissue

• Proved that deceased donors could be considered as an additional source of stem cells, supplementing limited living donor stem cell resources

NKR Teamwork Award for the 2nd longest living donor transplant chain (as of 2014)

2015

Procured and grew cells from deceased donor femur-derived bone marrow

Cryopreservation of donor lymphocytes

2016

Presented Organ Procurement Organization’s role in living donor transplants – ELPAT conference in Rome, Italy

• First presentation of the role of OPOs in facilitating living donor transplant chains

2017

Invitation to Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, The Netherlands to learn from leaders in living donation

• Psychosocial evaluation of altruistic donors to start kidney chains

Decellularized a deceased donor heart and kidney

• Potential for future reseeding with patient compatible cells.

Start of longest single center paired kidney exchange in New Jersey (grows to 33 paired exchanges and counting)

2018

Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)

• High resolution compatibility testing

• Will resolve ambiguities for antibody profiling

• Will help research efforts for specific alleles

• Rejection, Tolerance, Pharmacogenomics

Identification of proteins released during tissue processing

• Heart

• Adipose tissue

Observed living donor transplant program in Auckland, New Zealand

• Process

• Analysis of long-term health of living donors

2019

Sterile processing system

• Clinical/therapeutic use

Leader in transplant testing

Patient advocatesFacilitates living donor transplant chains

Advances in regenerative medicine

Future

Transplants with little or no immunosuppression

Decrease in organ discard

Organ repair

Gene therapy

Cyropreservation

Cell Therapy

Bio-printing of tissues and organs

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