PI W. P. Andrew Lee MD

Co-Investigators Jörg Gerlach,MD, PhD and Jack Patzer, PhD

Title Long-term immunosuppression-free survival of a combined composite tissue allograft (CTA) and autologous skin in a swine model

Description Wide spread use of Composite Tissue Allografts such as a hand or face transplant are currently limited by the high dose and long-term immunosuppressive treatment required to prevent graft rejection. This is predominantly related to the high immunogenicity of the skin.

In this study we aim to achieve long-term immunosuppression-free survival of a combined Composite Tissue Allograft (CTA) in a swine model. This shall be achieved by inducing “split tolerance” towards the musculoskeletal component of a CTA and replacement of the immunologically stringent epidermis by either a split thickness skin autograft or layers of isolated autologous and cultured keratinozytes sprayed on the graft.

Source Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative via DOD

Term 04/01/09 – 09/30/10

Amount: $450,450