In a groundbreaking move that underlines the promising usefulness of artificial intelligence (AI) in organ transplantation, Studypages has joined forces with the PUMP Consortium to revolutionize the field of liver organ transplantation using technology and AI.

Studypages' EDC platform will be utilized to expand the implementation of a novel technology and device that can extend the lifespan of donated organs and potentially rescue organs that may have previously been deemed unusable. The technology, called normothermic machine perfusion, involves pumping donor organs with blood and oxygen at normal body temperatures instead of preserving them in cold storage with ice, which is the more common method.

“Machine preservation of organs is a potentially seismic change in the field of transplantation. The perfusion platform has the potential to increase patient access to life-saving organ transplantation dramatically. Not only might we be able to resuscitate suboptimal donor organs, but we can potentially re-engineer them in the future,” said Dr. Kim-Schluger.

Organ transplantation is an amazing medical field that involves various areas of expertise, such as surgery, immunology, genetics, pharmacology, intensive care medicine, epidemiology, and ethics to save lives. However, there is a lack of organs available for transplantation. In the United States alone, about 13,000 patients are on the liver transplant list, and 8 to 9 percent of those patients will pass away each year while waiting on the list. The use of machine perfusion devices has the potential to improve organ viability and longevity, which will directly increase the number of patients who can receive successful transplants.

A non-profit consortium led by Dr. Zeeshan Akhtar and founding transplantation centers at Mount Sinai Health System, Cleveland Clinic, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, and the University of Cambridge has been established to research and expand this novel perfusion technology also leveraging AI in organ transplantation and research. The PUMP consortium aims to improve transplant outcomes by establishing an international liver perfusion data collection effort and framework to advance perfusion. Artificial intelligence will be used to understand organ viability and quality and better predict it. The consortium is leveraging Studypages EDC to collect data during perfusion and outcomes data after transplantation. The PUMP app provides interactive analytics tools to help the liver transplant community, improving clinical decision-making and patient outcomes by better-assessing liver viability.

AI in Organ Transplantation

The utilization of AI in organ transplantation carries great promise for advancing patient care and outcomes. AI-powered systems have the potential to analyze the data of organ donors and recipients in real time, thereby reducing waiting times, improving the precision of organ matching, and enhancing transplant outcomes. Additionally, AI holds immense promise in optimizing organ preservation, predicting the likelihood of organ damage, and guiding interventions.

In post-operative care, utilizing AI technologies in organ transplantation may soon provide invaluable support in monitoring transplant recipients and managing immunosuppressive therapy. As AI continues to evolve, its impact on organ transplantation will undoubtedly be profound, ushering in a new era of hope and possibility for patients awaiting life-saving transplants.

Why Pumping Organs?

Traditionally, organs are preserved in a cold environment, slowing their metabolism and extending their viability. However, this method, known as cold storage, isn't perfect because it can lead to some degree of damage when the organ is rewarmed and blood flow is restored for organ transplantation.

Enter Normothermic Machine Perfusion (NMP), a cutting-edge technology that maintains donor organs at body temperature and allows them to function as if they were still in the body by pumping blood and oxygen at normal body temperatures.

This method has several benefits: it helps doctors check if the organ is working well before the transplant, improves the health of the organs, extends the time organs can be kept before transplant, and even helps repair organs that might not have been good enough to use. Overall, NMP is improving the way organs are handled and increasing the success rate of transplants, helping more people get the treatment they need.

Bridging Research and Care with Data

Normothermic Machine Perfusion (NMP) is a new technology that requires more research to fully understand its potential to enhance transplant outcomes. The PUMP App, powered by Studypages, will be an essential tool for surgeons, researchers, clinicians, device makers, and other key players in the field. It will help generate real-world evidence leveraging AI in organ transplantation to revolutionize liver transplantation outcomes. Studypages is grateful for the opportunity to participate in this important work utilizing novel technology and AI in organ transplantation.

Check out the PUMP website here.