Shaf Keshavjee
Profile: Senior Scientist, University Health Network
Department: Surgery, University of Toronto
Research Interests:
Clinical outcomes & Lung Injury & Gene Therapy in Lung Transplantation. Current research includes:
- Injured Donor Lung Repair: We have recently developed a method for stable normothermic ex vivo lung perfusion. Using this system, we are developing therapeutics to repair donor lungs currently deemed unsuitable for repair. Among others, we are currently developing IL-10 gene therapy as one such therapeutic technique using large animal models and rejected human lungs.
- Mechanisms in bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome: Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome is the major limitation to long term survival of lung transplant recipients. Using an intrapulmonary tracheal transplant model developed in this laboratory, we are studying the mechanisms which lead to the development of this syndrome. This model has recently been successfully performed in the mouse. We anticipate that the use of knockout mice together with this system will further our understanding of the development of this syndrome.
- Identification of biomarkers for improved donor assessment: Currently, assessment of the suitability of a donor lung for transplantation is a clinical judgment. Using microarray technology and our donor lung tissue bank, we seek to identify biomarkers which predict lung function and suitability for transplantation. Ultimately, we hope to use these biomarkers clinically to both identify suitable lungs and to recognize lung repair following therapeutics during ex vivo lung perfusion.