Abdominal Area, Kidneys & Pelvis
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Evaluation of ferroptosis inhibition for the treatment of ischemia/reperfusion injury upon liver transplantation: A first-in-man pilot study

Institution: Institut für Metabolismus und Zelltod, Helmholtz Zentrum München
Applicant: Dr. Marcus Conrad, Helmholtz Zentrum München
Funding line:
Translational Research
The project involves the preparation and execution of a first-in-man study to investigate the potential of novel small molecule ferroptosis inhibitors for the prevention of ischemia/reperfusion injury upon liver transplantation.

Liver transplantation is the standard treatment for end-stage liver failure. However, due to a lack of sufficient donor organs, the use of livers from “extended criteria donors”, so-called marginal (inferior) organs, is increasing, ultimately leading to a dramatically higher incidence of transplantation-induced ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI).

Dr. Bettina Proneth and Dr. Marcus Conrad from the Helmholtz Center Munich.

During the course of this project, a first-in-man study will be conducted that will pave the way for the development of an innovative anti-IRI treatment. The approach is based on the early inhibition of a specific form of cell death, known as ferroptosis. To combat these tissue-deteriorating processes, newly developed ferroptosis inhibitors will be administered to livers during the pre-operative preparation phase prior to implantation. This is intended to minimize direct, IRI-related tissue damage and an associated detrimental immune cell activation.

The results of this study will, for the first time, address the therapeutic benefits of ferroptosis inhibitors in solid organ transplantation.

Additional Information can be found at:

https://www.helmholtz-muenchen.de/mcd/index.html

http://www.conradlaboratory.com

Project partners:
Dr. Bettina Proneth
Helmholtz Zentrum München
Institut für Metabolismus und Zelltod
Ingolstädter Landstr. 1
85764 Neuherberg

Prof. Edward Geissler
PD Dr. Elke Eggenhofer
Klinik und Poliklinik für Chirurgie 
Universitätsklinikum Regensburg 
Franz-Josef-Strauss Allee 11 
93053 Regensburg