New method may allow kidney recipients to live without anti-rejection medication

New ongoing research published today in the journal Science Translational Medicine suggests organ transplant recipients may not require anti-rejection medication in the future thanks to the power of stem cells, which may be able to be manipulated in mismatched kidney donor and recipient pairs to allow for successful transplantats without immunosuppressive drugs. Northwestern Medicine® and University of Louisville researchers are partnering on a clinical trial to study the use of donor stem cell infusions that have been specially engineered to "trick" the recipients' immune system into thinking the donated organ is part of the patient's natural self. This, would eliminate or reduce the need for anti-rejection medication, which recipients currently have to take for the rest of their lives.