Thousands of organ transplants are performed in the UK each year. Scientists working in the Clinical Transplantation Laboratory (CTL) ensure that patients safely receive their life-changing transplants by using specialist techniques to predict whether the recipient’s immune system will reject the organ. The role of transplants in our lives is expanding as, in 2020, the law around organ donation in England changed to an opt out system to allow more people to save more lives. What is the science behind CTL services? How do national and local teams support organ transplantation? What challenges do CTL scientists face?
In this episode, we get a bird’s eye view of CTL. Ali Versi, a patient who waited years for a kidney transplant, shares his experience on Inside Pathology. We also hear from Viapath’s CTL scientists at Guy’s Hospital on molecular typing methods, the organ transplant pipeline and the teamwork required to deliver transplant services in the age of COVID-19.
Special thanks to our guests Ali Versi, Olivia Shaw, Corinna Freeman, Kamla Reddi and Hannah Maple.
This podcast was produced by members of The Viapath Future Leaders in Innovation: including Charlene Hoad, Nana E. Mensah, Ariane Lim and Kate Roberts.
Viapath UK: http://www.viapath.co.uk/
Organ Donation Law in England: https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/uk-laws/organ-donation-law-in-england/
Music: Pure By Design by Purple Planet Music (Free License)